Glucomannan is a dietary fiber that comes from the Konjac plant and is also called Konjac gum. This is the fiber at the base of the well-known shirataki spaghetti: everyone knows that the calories of this special and gelatinous pasta are negligible, about 10 per hundred grams. However, few people know about the weight loss effects of glucomannan, and how this special fiber can help us lose weight.

In this article I will explain how to use it as an alternative to the consumption of shirataki, its properties and contraindications.

SLIMMING EFFECTS OF GLUCOMANNAN

The slimming effects of glucomannan derive from two important properties of this dietary fiber, which are the subject of numerous scientific studies. The first property concerns its degree of absorbency: the root powder in contact with water absorbs it for an amount equal to or greater than 50 times its weight.

1. REDUCTION OF HUNGER

Once ingested, it forms a gel that promotes intestinal emptying. Furthermore, this degree of absorbency explains why in contact with liquids it increases in volume, reducing the sense of hunger through its satiating power.

HOW TO USE IT

For example, if we blend half a level teaspoon of glucomannan powder with 250 ml of water, vegetable milk, cow’s milk or broth, we will obtain a kind of gelatinous cream which, if ingested or eaten with a spoon, eliminates our sense of hunger.

In the morning we can use this trick, blend the powder with oat or soy or almond milk and spoon the cream obtained, perhaps personalizing it with stevia and spices.
With only the calories of the liquid that we will have used, this gel obtained will eliminate our hunger.

It is important to use a blender to avoid lumps, and to remember that the powder must always be mixed with cold liquids, and then if anything heated. For example, we can prepare a kind of hot chocolate, cold blending half a teaspoon of powder, a cup of milk, a heaping teaspoon of cocoa, sweetener or brown sugar.
We pour the cream obtained in a saucepan and in a few minutes we will obtain a slimming hot chocolate. Or a glass of water and chopped fruit, such as half a pear, half an apple or banana, a kiwi.
We will get a super-satiating fruit puree.

If we use this trick half an hour before lunch and dinner, we will be much less hungry and it will be difficult to eat.
This first property makes the use of glucomannan useful for those who want to reduce the portions of food to lose weight, but love to eat in quantity and find it difficult to satiate. Sure, the jelly-like texture of the cream isn’t very tempting, but it works more than just taking it in tablets.
The important thing is never to exceed the daily dose of 4 grams of powder, about a level teaspoon.

You can buy the powder here.
GLUCOMANNAN (Konjac Flour) 100% pure in powder – Helps to increase the sense of satiety
It takes very little and one package will last you a long time.

GLUCOMANNAN PRODUCTS

Another alternative is to use glucomannan by eating shirataki spaghetti or other pasta shapes, or by buying other products that contain this flour: today there is glucomannan bread , pancakes   and even glucomannan chocolate on the market . In addition to spaghetti, there are other types of pasta, such as rice and lasagna.
(This does not mean giving up traditional pasta, absolutely, but maybe using this alternative too if we are trying to lose weight).

GLUCOMANNAN IN THE KITCHEN

Finally we can add the glucomannan powder to the common flour to make sweets and bread products, in this case a teaspoon of powder must be added to mix with the flour, more or less 5% of its weight. This will make our cakes and breads softer, but also healthier. And this brings us to the second property of glucomannan.