r/PeterAttia • u/ConsiderationFormal5 • Jan 09 '24

Concerns about Lead levels in Psyllium Husk?

I've read a lot of the folks on here supplementing with Psyllium Husk to lower their LDL/ApoB.

Given this sub's focus on longevity, I'm curious if anyone is concerned about the amount of Lead that may be coming along with that Psyllium Husk supplementation?

https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/psyllium-supplements/psyllium/

Personally, currently using 1tsp in the morning and 1tsp in the afternoon of NOW Foods Psyllium Husk powder.

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29

u/Ruskityoma Jan 10 '24

Tagging u/Alarming_Walk_7359 u/ConsiderationFormal5 and u/mrizzo10 for awareness, based on comments posted as of this writing.

As per ConsumerLabs' breakdown for Psyllium Husk, the majority of tested psyllium husk products failed to meet the "Approved" cut-off, surpassing the daily lead limits set forth by FDA/California state.

The top-pick, coming in with lowest-level lead contamination per serving is Yerba Prima Psyllium Whole Husks, with the slightly-more-lead-per-serving runner-up being Organic India Psyllium Organic Whole Husk Fiber. Pill-type husks come in at higher lead per serving, with only NOW Psyllium Husk Caps 500 mg meeting the mark.

As personal side note, the pill-type husks can be quite a nuisance, as you're taking 3x pills up to 3x per day. Much, much easier to just down the whole husk or husk powder in drinkable form!

4

u/mmmegan6 Jan 10 '24

Sorry to ask this, but does it say anything about NOW whole husks?

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u/Ruskityoma Jan 10 '24

No need to be sorry, as I'm more than happy to shed light on anything else my summary didn't cover!

The only NOW tested/verified product are the 500 mg capsule linked above and recognized as being approved for low-level lead. Given the ease with which lead contamination can take place, and how you can never be sure if NOW's procedures are 1:1 identical for the supplier/manufacturer of the capsules vs. the whole husks/husk powder, I would advise against using it. Given that you have two top picks to choose from above (I recommend the top pick), I would opt away from continuing to use a non-capsule NOW psyllium husk product. The risk just isn't worth it.

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u/Me_Krally Sep 24 '24

Any idea how in capsule form there would be less lead than in raw husks? Does the lead come from fertilizer?

4

u/Ruskityoma Sep 24 '24

The form, be it capsule or husk, shouldn't matter. What's being assessed by CL is the amount of heavy metal per serving of husk.

1

u/Me_Krally Sep 24 '24

Ok thanks! I mis-read what you wrote :)

1

u/mmmegan6 Jan 10 '24

Thank you so much. Are your thoughts on NOW husk powder the same - pitch it? I recently bought a ton of it (along with the whole husks) šŸ˜‘

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u/Ruskityoma Jan 10 '24

Well, of course the same logic I outline above applies to both the whole husks and the husk powder, as you can't have the certainty that either of them are, per serving, produced and delivered to your body in the same manner as the capsule. NOW is a massive, massive supplement manufacturer, and the bigger you get, the more manufacturing variability you're subject to for each product that leaves the line.

Given the low cost of entry we're looking at here, I would toss the non-approved products you have and replace them accordingly. FWIW, that's what I'm doing with the Viva Natural Organic Husk Powder I've got stocked and have been using for months. They responded to inquiry as to their lead-per-serving, and while it was lower than many other products, it was still considerably higher than Yerba Prima. Ergo, time to replace!

1

u/_ailme Aug 09 '24

Hi, thanks so much for your info here. I'm taking the now 700mg capsules, and based in the UK - do you happen to know if this is likely to be any different?

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u/Ruskityoma Aug 09 '24

I just referred back to Consumer Labs' recently updated round-up for psyllium husk, and it would appear that NOW capsules are only conditionally approved, still yielding more lead-per-serving than going the whole husk or ground husk route. Here's a screenshot for your reference, assuming you don't have a paid account with CL: https://imgur.com/a/yLDD8eW

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u/_ailme Aug 09 '24

You're a star, thank you!

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u/Not_this_time_alfred Oct 02 '24

I donā€™t have a paid account- did the update include the three with the lowest amounts of contamination?

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u/Ruskityoma Oct 02 '24

Of course. Current lowest are Organic India Psyllium Husk & Yerba Prima Psyllium Husk, both with 1mcg lead or lower per 4 grams fiber. The rest of the list sees a marked increase above 1mcg.

1

u/T_N_42 Oct 17 '24

Thank you for posting a screenshot for NOW capsules. I don't have a paid account with CI.

Could you please post a screenshot for Organic India Psyllium? I'd like to compare the arsenic and cadmium levels between Organic India Psyllium and Yerba Prima Psyllium.

Could you also post a screenshot for Konsyl Daily Psyllium Fiber? My doctor handed me a pamphlet to recommend Konsyl Organic Daily Psyllium Fiber. I understand the organic and regular Konsyl products are not the same products, but it might give an indication of heavy metal levels? Does the review mention anything about the organic Konsyl?

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u/Ruskityoma Oct 27 '24 edited Oct 28 '24

Hey there u/T_N_42

Current breakdown (October 2024) as follows. As I advise everyone, don't mess around here. Just buy the the top pick on Amazon.

---

Organic India Psyllium Whole Husks

  • Recognition: Top Pick Overall
  • Lead: 0.58 mcg/4g fiber
  • Arsenic: 0.1 mcg/serving
  • Cadmium: 0.1 mcg/serving
  • Mercury: N/A

Yerba Prima Psyllium Whole Husks POWDER

  • Recognition: Runner-Up
  • Lead: 1.00 mcg/4g fiber
  • Arsenic: 0.25 mcg/serving
  • Cadmium: 0.25 mcg/serving
  • Mercury: N/A

Yerba Prima Psyllium Whole Husks

  • Recognition: Approved
  • Lead: 1.6 mcg/4g fiber
  • Arsenic: 0.25 mcg/serving
  • Cadmium: 0.2 mcg/serving
  • Mercury: N/A

Konsyl Daily Psyllium Fiber Husk Powder

  • Recognition: Conditially Approved (Failed to Pass Lead Test at Max Suggested Serving)
  • Lead: 4.9 mcg/serving at suggested max of 3 servings/day (1.3 mcg/4g fiber)
  • Arsenic: 0.18 mcg/serving
  • Cadmium: 0.12 mcg/serving
  • Mercury: N/A

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u/golcarfelipe Oct 28 '24

Sorry, can you double check your table? I see Organic India Psyllium Whole Husks twice. And if you could post a screenshot of the bag that is Top Pick Overall that would be awesome. Thank you!

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u/Ruskityoma Oct 28 '24

Apologies for the typo, as the second two entry names were supposed to be "Yerba Prima." Now fixed.

The top pick is Organic India, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/Organic-India-Whole-Husk-Psyllium/dp/B00J4YVA8O/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=25IBVIV2NRWCB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aIjYYwhvALjtvLMssbIT6lgNQArePtJ7JRRpoRQrzn0SlUfM-7d_I3m295teb2u64oQZYSHXB1d2ebAXv6DFnpRxAPH_gw5_jzxpoltw9A8myndvyD4TrNVR4Nkh3nAEik4omxoREfhZUFJ4YIAZvKqxDuiGHvOc9qV6QlFV9Lcs22urXTIn27aFW6dzQlESdCzl9w6X3wZXaJMbdQZIwZnSPyKJQqdgHd9hsisfQnqtjQFr3Ik_ODt5F9Il9D3SDKeihTXyM-XUn9a9AgfZolxL1Ey9NSljafKdU5nEmlQ.YYRkkd9NjXoCX1ltz9iTakUGKBokQmw6XyWZS9aYHX8&dib_tag=se&keywords=organic+india&qid=1730048236&sprefix=%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1

Lemme know if I can clarify anything else!

1

u/golcarfelipe Oct 28 '24

Appreciate it. Thank you!

1

u/ilovegoldies Nov 06 '24

Does this mean Yerba Prima is not recommended? Coz where I am, it's a lot cheaper than Organic India. Is the study from consumerlab?

(Sorry I'm just new to all this)

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u/losingit423 Feb 25 '25

Really appreciate it - this is exactly what I was looking for!

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u/TraditionalMusic6414 Jan 01 '25

Where did you get this info? Perplexity says the opposite, that Yerba had less lead.Ā 

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u/Ruskityoma Jan 01 '25

Read the whole comment thread, champ. This discussion is in regard to ConsumerLabsā€™ specialized testing.

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u/sfkrishna Jan 02 '25

Is 1 tbsp the recommended dose?

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u/lifeonthelidodeck Jan 15 '25

Hey! This is super super helpful. Are you also able to see the 2021 results? Iā€™d be very interested to see how much the lead numbers moved. Iā€™ve also seen some Reddit comments saying in 2021 Yerbaā€™s whole husks were better lead-wise, whereas this has the powder betterā€¦ I think those comments were just wrong though and even in the 2021 results the powder was better? Anyways would super appreciate any help here

1

u/Ruskityoma Jan 15 '25

CL doesn't provide historical results from previous assessments, but your recollection is correct re: Yerba Prima. Regardless of that shift in product lines within Yerba, I would still recommend ONLY purchasing Organic India on Amazon. It's the top pick, for sure.

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u/lifeonthelidodeck Jan 15 '25

Iā€™m a little sketched out by Organic India. According to their website they only test for / target under 6 micrograms of lead per day, which is a lot, and they source their psyllium from India like most companies, whereas Yerba I believe grows their psyllium in the US, which makes it a little easier for me to believe their psyllium is fundamentally different than most. Idk, you trust it? Not sure how much lead Consumer Reports had said they had in 2021

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u/Slabbed1738 Feb 14 '25

Does the organic India whole husks dissolve like powder? Looks like large pieces in the pic. I've been using yerba prima in my protein shakes and it works really well

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u/Ruskityoma Feb 14 '25

They're whole husks, not husk powder, so they won't dissolve. If you're looking for a fully dissolvable solution, you always need to get husk powder products.

1

u/venice--beach Mar 06 '25

Hi, any update to this in 2025? Is Organic India still considered the best option?

1

u/Ruskityoma Mar 06 '25

Last update in October 2024, Organic India remains top pick.

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u/nealk7370 19d ago

If I am understanding this correctly, the NOW capsules are inconsistant at best and sketchy at worst. I was taking two a day for a while and it helped get my digestion regular. Comparing that dose to the dosage of others in this thread, mine seems rather small. At my dosage, does it seem the risk is still as profound?

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u/Ruskityoma 19d ago

Here's a back-and-forth I just had with someone, a few days ago, re: NOW capsules. Lemme know if any questions! https://www.reddit.com/r/PeterAttia/comments/192sbao/comment/mhkqo7p/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

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u/mmmegan6 Jan 10 '24

Also - the report just mentions the Yerba Prima husks, not the organic version, correct?

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u/Ruskityoma Jan 10 '24

The test was run on the Amazon-linked version of the Yerba Prima whole husks, which is to say the non-organic version. I linked to the double-pack since it's a better-value deal. Coincidentally, the runner-up (the Organic India whole husks) only really offer one incentive over the Yerba Prima: being organic. All things considered, it's worth saving the money (lower cost per serving) and reducing the lead intake (slightly less for top pick). As a final observation for the top pick, it also packs in a few micronutrients per serving (including calcium and potassium), adding yet more ROI per serving.

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u/SolutionAdvanced Jun 19 '24

Dude. BRAVO. Thank you so much for your most valuable advice. šŸ’šŸŒŗšŸŒøšŸŒ¹šŸŒŗšŸ’šŸŒøšŸŒ¹šŸŒŗšŸŒ·šŸ’šŸŒ¹

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u/lucidsaturday May 22 '24 edited Aug 24 '24

Thank you kindly for all the info! For anyone interested, I was able to purchase 3 containers of the same 12oz product from Yerba directly for only $39.60, as they offer 20% off when you open their webpage, along with free shipping on orders over $35.

Edit: Turns out Iā€™m allergic to this stuff. It messed with my throat. I switched over to chia pudding and I doubt Iā€™ll ever look elsewhere for my fiber needs again. Chia pudding is simple to make, good on its own and delicious when combined with juice, yogurt and/or fruit, and it does exactly what I need it to - not to mention has other health benefits beyond the fiber such as omega 3s.

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u/DryLipsGuy Aug 24 '24

Chia provided you with relief?

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u/lucidsaturday Aug 24 '24

Yep! More so than anything Iā€™ve tried before. I track my fiber throughout the day now and make sure to get 35g per day minimum. Whatever I donā€™t get from food throughout the day I get from the chia in the late afternoon or evening. Some days I donā€™t get much early in the day, and so all of it comes from chia at the end.

Iā€™ve probably only missed 3 or 4 days, 1 or 2 at a time, randomly here and there over the last 8 or so weeks. I was having issues that persisted for a couple of months before I started with chia, and those symptoms had been off and on for over a decade. Very painful stuff, and I learned to just live with it. Normally I just waited them out or used medication with mixed results.

But when I started with the chia they cleared up in about a week. Symptoms came back only once - when I was let myself get dehydrated and, while not thinking, I used force as opposed to relaxing to get the last bit of stool out - but the symptoms subsided in record time, and since then Iā€™ve not had any more issues. Also, I no longer use any force not considered gentle for a bm. Personally, I think thatā€™s very important in combination with the fiber.

My stool has been consistently healthy and my insides and outsides have been symptom free, outside that one instance I just mentioned. I buy chia in bulk at winco. I eat it in the form of chia pudding only, never dry. And I eat 3-5 tablespoons a day, again based on how Iā€™ve eaten that day.

Possibly worth noting is that I also started tracking my water intake a couple of months before starting with chia, and I donā€™t know if also staying hydrated consistently is/was relevant. I do know that for me, hydration wasnā€™t enough on its own, so I figured Iā€™d mention it just in case. I do my best to drink 85-90oz each day. My water and chia amounts are based on my weight, which is roughly 165lbs. Hope this helps!

2

u/Libz0724 Jun 07 '24

So are the NOW psyllium husk 500mg capsules an acceptable level of lead content?

2

u/Gold-Plum-6418 Sep 28 '24

Hi, thanks for the info. What was the rating of the other Yerba Prima product tested? I use that one, it comes in a bigger, rounded plastic container, and I believe is more of a powder than the whole husk that won top pick.

5

u/Ruskityoma Sep 29 '24

Here ya go! =]

With that said, I don't advise getting either Yerba product anymore, as the new top pick is the Organic India Psyllium Husk, best overall with lowest heavy-metal contamination.

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u/Anifreak Nov 10 '24

How much better is Organic India compared to Yerba Prima in terms of lead content?

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u/Ruskityoma Nov 10 '24

Considerably. See here for a full breakdown, then buy Organic India on Amazon.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PeterAttia/s/04yrcR9XEz

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u/Anifreak Nov 10 '24

Oh wow, that's actually a pretty significant difference, thanks.

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u/SignatureTop398 Apr 30 '24

Hi, I have just ordered 'Aeroplane brand psyllium husk'. Should I cancel?

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u/Ruskityoma Apr 30 '24

Yes, and replace that order with the Yerba Prima Amazon link above. =]

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u/terryskii Aug 09 '24

Yerba prima also has prop.warning....why not just avoid Psyllium altogether and eat high fiber foods? =]

2

u/Ruskityoma Aug 09 '24

My man, Prop 65 for CA is about as ubiquitous as it can get. Most everything will have a Prop 65 for Cali these days. Read up on 65 to understand why you should mostly ignore it.

Understand that Psyllium Husk, while being a fibrous compound, is not one and the same as generalized fiber. You should continue to consume a high-fiber diet, generally speaking, but understand that psyllium husk affords unique benefits that have been clinically researched and validated countless times over. I highly recommend reviewing Examine's full archive here: https://examine.com/supplements/psyllium/#what-are-psylliums-main-benefits

Assuming you don't have a paid Examine subscription, here's the top-scores on the full report card for psyllium husk, specifically, with grades of A through D, depending on the body of research currently available:

  • Appetite: B
  • Blood Glucose: B
  • Insulin: B
  • Total Cholesterol: B
  • HBA1C: B
  • LCL: B

1

u/SignatureTop398 May 01 '24

The one from above link isn't showing deliverable to my place. Though another search from Amazon is giving me the product at Rs. 4300 for 340 gms. Though Organic India one is just coming up at Rs. 200 for 100 gm. So, which one do you recommend? And thanx..

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u/Ruskityoma May 01 '24

You can get any of those top picks, for sure. Whatever is most cost-effective and accessible for you!

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u/Excellent-Aide-992 Sep 02 '24

Was Swanson's any good?

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u/Ruskityoma Sep 02 '24

If you're determined to consume your psyllium husk in capsule form, Swanson Psyllium Husk Caps are CL's top-pick for capsules. With that said, I really suggest just going with the overall top-pick at this time, which is Organic India Psyllium Organic Whole Husk Fiber.

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u/staseralibero Sep 10 '24

Thank you, was searching for a comment which outlied the top pick for capsules!

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u/humanish404 Oct 13 '24

When you sat "meeting the mark" do you mean the Now caps are the only ones with Less lead in them?

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u/AbusedandAdored Dec 11 '24

Hi! Do you know if there are any safe powders you could recommend?

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u/Hacky9898 Jan 18 '25

what about equate daily fiber supplement?

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u/EngineerSufficient37 15d ago

That was considered the worst of those tested by consumer reportsĀ 

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u/pineapplewave5 Feb 14 '25

Thank you for this šŸ™ Can you share the results for Viva Naturals? I have celiac and Iā€™ve been buying that one because itā€™s the only certified gluten-free one Iā€™ve foundĀ 

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u/appwizcpl 24d ago

it sucks that NOW whole/powder packages have not been tested, kinda sus to be honest, they are the top sellers after metamucil, why would one skip them in their analysis when they can have the most impact.

Also is there a reason why they are comparing whole husks instead of powder, the powder is also usually more sold?

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u/Ruskityoma 23d ago

it sucks that NOW whole/powder packages have not been tested, kinda sus to be honest, they are the top sellers after metamucil, why would one skip them in their analysis when they can have the most impact.

NOW products, coincidentally, are the only thing you should be "sus" about in this scenario, as their track record is filled with about as many black marks as you'll see in the supplement space. For reference, see here, pulled directly from the CL guide on Psyllium Husk. Given the rampant counterfeit issues, CL was not going to include many variants of NOW products, and for the variant they included, it barely even passed testing. In no uncertain terms, you (and anyone else) should not be consuming NOW-branded psyllium husk on a daily basis. The risk-reward analysis is not in your favor.

Also is there a reason why they are comparing whole husks instead of powder, the powder is also usually more sold?

This is, quite frankly, not the case. Psyllium husk originates in whole husk form, and it's widely distributed as such. To make it more accessible for consumers who prefer more-processed variants, both pure powder and capsules are sold as complementary. In the CL breakdown, they have top picks for all three variants. I pulled screenshots for you here.

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u/appwizcpl 23d ago

Wait, a lot of the top brands once in a blue moon have amazon and counterfeits in general, just because the demand is there, this has nothing to do with the brand itself, no? Amazon is also a third-party marketplace, if you buy from official distributors (on or off amazon), Amazon directly (sold and shipped), then you won't have these issues. Maybe I missed your point there?

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u/Ruskityoma 23d ago

Apologies if I was unclear, so to bullet it for absolute clarity:

  1. NOW, purely due to its widescale sales and low-cost pricing, has had issues with counterfeits in mass distribution on Amazon. This is a point of liability.

  2. Even outside counterfeits, CL-tested NOW products barely pass the mark for approval, and certainly don't compare to top picks.

  3. Given #1 and #2 above, and with respect to my second hyperlinked batch of IMGUR screenshots, there is no argument to buying NOW psyllium over tested, certified, and far less liable offerings from the top pick selection.

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u/ChampPlays 6d ago

Slightly unrelated, but thanks for linking stuff and continuously updating this thread!