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Sood N, et al. (2008). Effect of glucomannan on plasma lipid and glucose concentrations, body weight, and blood pressure: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Konjac supplements are available online or in most natural health stores. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering “conventional” foods and drug products.

Because konjac is rich in fiber and low in calories, it can help people feel full, which helps control weight. In addition, konjac also contains a variety of amino acids and trace elements, which have special effects on the prevention and treatment of diabetes and hypertension. Konjac also has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and is sometimes used to make skincare products. A 2008 study found that glucomannan may help prevent constipation. The study showed that adding glucomannan to a low fiber diet increased the amounts of probiotic bacteria in feces. Bateni E, et al. (2013). The use of konjac glucomannan hydrolysates (GMH) to improve the health of the skin and reduce acne vulgaris. According to a 2005 study, adding a glucomannan fiber supplement to a balanced, 1,200-calorie diet caused more weight loss than a 1,200-calorie diet plus a placebo. Chen H-L, et al. (2003). Konjac supplement alleviated hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic subjects — A randomized double-blind trial.Soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels. A diet high in fiber may also help regulate bowel movements, prevent hemorrhoids, and help prevent diverticular disease. Ho HVT, et al. (2017). A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the effect of konjac glucomannan, a viscous soluble fiber, on LDL cholesterol and the new lipid targets non-HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), a firm is responsible for determining that the dietary supplements it manufactures or distributes are safe and that any claims made about them are supported by adequate evidence to show that they’re not false or misleading. A 2008 systematic review found that konjac may help lower total cholesterol, LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, and triglycerides. Konjac also reduced body weight and fasting blood sugar.

Cooking: Konjac can be cooked alone or with other ingredients. For example, it can be used as an auxiliary ingredient in a very famous Chinese dish, spicy crayfish. It can absorb the flavor of spices and soup in the food, which is very delicious. Konjac candies have a gelatinous structure that doesn’t dissolve in your mouth like other gelatin products. Birketvedt GS, et al. (2005). Experiences with three different fiber supplements in weight reduction.Chen H-L, et al. (2008). Supplementation of konjac glucomannan into a low-fiber Chinese diet promoted bowel movement and improved colonic ecology in constipated adults: A placebo-controlled, diet-controlled trial.

Take konjac with plenty of water, preferably before a meal. There’s no approved, standardized dose of konjac. Recommended dosages vary by manufacturer and what you’re using the konjac for. Konjac supplements may also expand in your esophagus or bowel and cause an obstruction. The risk is higher if you: Researchers concluded that glucomannan could be an adjuvant (additional) therapy for people with diabetes and high cholesterol. Konjac is a perennial tuber, mainly cultivated in various parts of Asia. It is rich in fiber, low in calories, and is an ideal choice for a healthy diet. Konjac has a unique texture, similar to jelly, which makes it widely used in various foods.According to the FDA, some konjac candies have caused choking deaths in older adults and children. This prompted the FDA to issue an import alert for konjac candies. Onakpoya I, et al. (2014). The efficacy of glucomannan supplementation in overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Adding an additional fiber supplement (guar gum or alginate) didn’t have an impact. Konjac and cholesterol You can use konjac as a noodle in stir fry dishes as well as in powder form in baked goods and sauces.