Pennies-a-day diet

M.D.s and real women rave about the bargain fiber proven to speed weight loss by 1,550%

- LISA MAXBAUER

Remember when our moms and grandmas used to sip water mixed with fiber powder to stay regular and feel their best? Well, that same fiber is staging a huge comeback. Made from a plant called psyllium, the old-fashioned stuff has a legion of new social media devotees who insist it helps crush weight goals on any diet. For example, intermittent fasters say psyllium lets them fast longer without hunger. Keto dieters rave it makes tasty low-carb baked goods. And Rondi Korven, 52, tells us it revs up plant-based menus and helped her shed 208 pounds. There's compelling science too: A study in Nutrition Today found that among folks on the same diet, those who took 2 tsp. of psyllium daily lost a whopping 1,550% more weight. Read on for Rondi's inspiring story and to learn how psyllium might help you.

Most experts agree we need at least 25 grams of fiber daily for optimal health, yet the average woman gets a mere 12 grams. Hopping on the psyllium bandwagon is an easy fix. “Just add a scoop of psyllium to water and drink it,” suggests Gut Check author Steven R. Gundry, M.D. Both a tablespoon of whole psyllium husks (the most fiber-rich part of the plant) and a teaspoon of powdered husks deliver 7 grams of fiber. Impressive, right?

And while all types of fiber offer benefits, psyllium stands out. One study found that if more of us took psyllium—which prompts the liver to eliminate cholesterol—we’d cut healthcare costs by $870 million a year. Researchers also identified psyllium as the only fiber supplement to improve cholesterol, blood sugar, digestion, blood pressure and weight control at once.

Dr. Gundry says it’s key that almost all fiber in psyllium is soluble, which means it partially breaks down in our systems, doing incredible things in the process. Especially if weight loss is your main goal…

How psyllium slims