Glucomannan (Konjac Root)- The Wonder Fiber?
Glucomannan (Konjac Root), one of several key
ingredients in The Original Summertime One Day Diet®, is a
water-soluble dietary fiber obtained from the root of the Konjac plant found
throughout Asia. Although it's nearly calorie-free, this ancient fiber has
been consumed as a food (in noodles, tofu, etc.) for over 1000 years.
Studies have shown that the health benefits of glucomannan include:
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Cholesterol reduction
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Blood sugar regulation
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Constipation relief
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Weight loss / appetite suppression
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Improved blood pressure
Glucomannan helps reduce cholesterol,
helps maintain regularity and promotes bowel health. This wonder fiber helps
to normalize blood sugar, to relieve stress on the pancreas and to
discourage blood sugar abnormalities, such as hypoglycemia. Konjac root
absorbs toxic substances produced during digestion and elimination. It binds
toxic material and eliminates them before they can be absorbed into the
blood stream. Glucomannan may act as a prevention of chronic disease and a
weight control agent.
Several controlled studies have found konjac root
to be effective for reducing total cholesterol. Glucomannan appears to
reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol and, according to some studies, increase HDL
("good") cholesterol. Additionally, glucomannan may improve other risk
factors for heart disease, such as high triglyceride levels and high blood
pressure. As a diet aid, it expands
to about 50 times its original volume when used with a large glass of water.
konjac root provides a safe alternative to
diet drugs.
Two
of several scientific studies on Glucamannan:
Int J
Obes. 1984;8(4):289-93.
Effect of glucomannan on obese patients: a clinical study.
Walsh DE,
Yaghoubian V, Behforooz A.
An eight-week double-blind trial was conducted to test purified glucomannan
fiber as a food supplement in 20 obese subjects. Glucomannan fiber (from
konjac root) or placebo was given in 1-g doses (two 500 mg capsules) with 8
oz water, 1 h prior to each of three meals per d. Subjects were instructed
not to change their eating or exercise patterns. Results showed a
significant mean weight loss (5.5 lbs) using glucomannan over an eight-week
period. Serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were
significantly reduced (21.7 and 15.0 mg/dl respectively) in the glucomannan
treated group. No adverse reactions to glucomannan were reported.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1995
Mar;61(3):585-9.
Effect
of short-term ingestion of konjac glucomannan on serum cholesterol in
healthy men.
Arvill A, Bodin L.
Department of Clinical Physiology and Occupational Medicine, Orebro Medical
Centre Hospital, Sweden.
The effects of the soluble fiber konjac glucomannan (GM) on serum
cholesterol concentrations were investigated in 63 healthy men in a
double-blind crossover, placebo-controlled study. After a 2-wk baseline
period, the subjects were given 3.9 g glucomannan or placebo daily for 4 wk.
After a washout period of 2 wk, crossover took place, followed by another 4
wk of treatment. The subjects were encouraged not to change their ordinary
diets or general lifestyle during the investigation. glucomannan fibers
reduced total cholesterol (TC) concentrations by 10%,
low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations by 7.2%,
triglycerides by 23%, and systolic blood pressure by 2.5%.
High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C
did not change significantly. The results of this study show that
glucomannan is an effective cholesterol-lowering dietary adjunct.
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