A food that’s been used in traditional medicine for detoxification, asthma, cough, breast pain, and even suppressing cancer. Now, modern medicine is showing this food can aid digestion, reduce cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar, encourage healthy gut bacteria, and help you lose weight. This is Gluccomman, more commonly knownas konjac. The konjac plant is a tuber that provides a carbohydrate that is very low in calories and carbohydrates but contains soluble fiber that produces a remarkable gel-like substance. And it’s this fiber that exerts its extraordinary influence on the body….
- Treat your digestive woes- The unique glucomannan fiber stimulates the digestive transit of food to help those who may suffer from constipation. But on the flip side, it also helps stabilize and bulk up stools in those who have frequent diarrhea. It’s even been shown to assist with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis! One of the mechanisms by which glucomannan works for these conditions is its ability to influence gut bacteria in the colon, reducing inflammation and binding to any pathogens that cause irritation.
- Prevent cancer and disease- Since the unique fiber travels to thelarge intestine intact, it leads to fermentation and feeds gut bacteria in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) — propionate, butyrate, and acetate. These SCFAs not only help reduce inflammation in the colon but reduce systemic inflammation and boost the immune system to help reduce the risk of cancer and other inflammation-induced diseases (which is most of them).
- Reduce cholesterol- Participants given glucomannan for 28 days saw a 7 percent reduction in total cholesterol and 10 percent lower LDL. In terms of cholesterol, this unique fiber directly reduces cholesterol absorption from the digestive tract. And the SCFA propionate helps decrease cholesterol production in your body.
- As a weight loss tool and appetite satisfier- If you’re trying tocut back on calories but can’t get past that hungry feeling, get hold ofglucomannan powder and use it as a pre-load before meals. Becauseglucomannan is predominantly a fiber-rich food, it provides a ‘fullfeeling.’
- Regulate blood sugar levels– Several studies in diabeticparticipants show that eating konjac products or consuming glucomannan supplements may help lower fasting blood sugar levels by as much as 23.2 percent! Konjac doesn’t taste like much on its own but can be added to soups, stews, noodles dishes, or eaten as a pasta and rice substitute.
