What is glucomannan and do you need it?

You might have heard of glucomannan, glucomannan powder, flour or glucomannan supplements for weight loss. But do you know what glucomannan is and why it might be useful?

Glucomannan is a natural, water-soluble dietary fibre that is extracted from the roots of konjac. For just a few calories, glucomannan can help you to feel satiated or feel full by absorbing water and expanding to form bulk in your stomach.

It absorbs so much liquid that if you add just small amount of glucomannan to a glass of water you will see it turn into gel. If you’re trying to lose weight, it might be beneficial to feel full but only consume a few calories.

Interestingly, glucomannan has been used for centuries in traditional Japanese cooking as a thickener or gelling agent. In Japan it is lovingly called “the broom of the intestines”! This can give you a good indication of what it can do for you on the inside!

Preliminary studies on the health or weight loss claims of glucomannan are promising. In one 2007 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, participants taking a glucomannan and psyllium husk combination supplement lost approximately 4.5 kgs in 16 weeks compared to 0.77 kgs pounds lost in the placebo group. Another study using only glucomannan showed an average of 2.5 kgs lost over eight weeks, without making any other diet or lifestyle changes.

When you eat glucomannan you need to be very aware and vigilant about drinking enough water. This fibre is very “thirsty” in your stomach and will absorb water and it’s important to make sure the fibre ball your stomach is working on is soft and flexible.

The ways you can take glucomannan include:

Glucomannan powder:

Practically tasteless, glucomannan powder or flour can be mixed into smoothies and other foods as a thickener.

Glucomannan in food (in konjac):

You can find glucomannan in a whole range of foods from pasta to lollies! Slendier offers:

Konjac pasta

Konjac noodles

Konjac rice

Konjac in smoothies (4 delicious fruit flavours)

Ready Meals (with 3 organic pasta sauces)

Glucomannan powder tablets:

These are a convenient way to take glucomannan but, while occurrences are rare, solid tablets are more likely than other forms of glucomannan to cause blockages of the throat and intestines.