Glucomannan for Weight Loss-Real Science, or Just Hype?

In our modern society, maintaining a healthy weight can be a struggle. There are many reasons for this, but the 2 most common ones are poor diet and inactivity. If we want to go somewhere, we get into the car or take a bus. Many of our jobs have us sitting behind a computer all day; and when we get hungry, we hit the drive through.

Our children play on computer games all day instead of going outside and playing tag...or possibly kick the can.

We need to lose weight. But how do we do it? Diet and exercise is not easy. If you've watched TV at all then you have no doubt seen the constant barrage of of weight loss products...the "patented formulas"...used by certain celebrities. But do any of these actually work?

With all of the "patented formulas" available, it seems like simplicity may be the best approach after all.

Glucomannan, or konjac, is a soluble fiber extracted from the root of the plant. It has been used for many centuries by Asian cultures as a food source. While many Asians do take it as a supplement, it's traditional use is as an ingredient in noodles and flour.

But these days, glucomannan is becoming more popular in the Western world. While you probably will not find it at your corner grocery store, it is available in most herbal supplement and vitamin shops.

Glucomannan, or Shirataki noodles are another option if you want to incorporate it into food. But it should be noted that these glucomannan noodles do not taste the same as your everyday pasta. Many people also find the texture quite odd. But if you're feeling adventurous, maybe you could give them a try.

Several glucomannan weight loss studies have been done that clearly indicate glucomannan can be effective for weight loss. In 16 week study, the glucomannan fiber group lost 4.52 kg on average compared to a .78 kg average in the placebo group.

While this may not seem like much, it was done without any alteration to diet or exercise. So it's easy to see that these results could be easily enhanced or accelerated.

The most basic reason why glucomannan (konjac) works for weight loss; is that soluble fiber is bulk. And bulk fills you up. But there are other reasons as well. Glucomannan turns into a gel when combined with water. This gel slows the absorption of fat and carbohydrates into the blood stream. Some of this may be expelled through a bowel movement before this is even absorbed.

But here's another great fact. Slower absorption of carbohydrates means less blood sugar spikes. When we eat a high carb meal, our blood stream is flooded with insulin. This is done to create energy; but also to get blood sugar levels down to prevent damage to cells. And unless you are being active, there's only one place this glucose can go...to fat cells.

Another bad thing is the blood sugar crash that is sure to follow. This signals your body that it's time to eat again. It also makes you feel down and tired. Glucomannan helps mitigate this. Ever heard of the glycemic index? It's the same concept; slow digestion of carbs.

The soluble fiber in glucomannan is also very beneficial to diabetics. If you have a diabetic in your life, you should consider picking up a bottle for them.

Glucomannan is not widely publicized as a weight loss aid. I can't say for sure, but I suspect the reason for this is the simplicity of the product. Most companies want to sell you their patented, overpriced, over-hyped products.

You can't patent glucomannan, it's also not very easy to hype up a simple root; from a simple plant. But in my opinion, simplicity is the height of elegance.

Best wishes and good luck to all of you.

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