Glucomannan ( Amorphophallus konjak ) is a plant of the Araceae family . Rich in fiber with slimming properties, it is useful against fat absorption . Let's find out better.
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Properties of glucomannan
Glucomannan is a granular powder, which is extracted from the konjak root. The tuber contains a fiber, soluble in water, composed of a high molecular weight polysaccharide, consisting mainly of glucose and mannose . It has high viscosity among all known dietary fibers and has the ability to attract a lot of water, giving rise to a soft gelatinous mass, giving the plant slimming and satiating properties.
In the presence of liquids, in fact, glucomannan generates a gel, capable of increasing its volume about 60 times, compared to that of its dry form; if then the environment is acidic it reaches its maximum expansion, up to 80-100 times, producing a sense of fullness and satiety. Therefore in the stomach 15 minutes after the intake, the fiber starts to swell. After about 60 minutes it reaches its maximum value, thanks to the presence of gastric juices, and here it remains for about two hours, carrying out the anti-hunger action.
Recent studies have confirmed that the intake of dietary fiber and a healthy diet reduces the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. Glucomannan, as a fiber, counteracts the absorption of fats and slows the absorption of sugars. For this cholesterol-lowering and hypoglycemic property it is indicated for overweight subjects who are in a dietary diet; and in the presence of sugar or triglycerides in the blood.
Finally the soft and viscous mass, when it reaches the colon is not absorbed and its high viscosity exerts a laxative action : it massages and cleans the intestinal walls, favoring the elimination of the stools in a mechanical way, that is without causing peristalsis due to induced stimulation .
Method of use
2 tablets of dry glucomannan extract 1 hour before main meals, with plenty of water
Contraindications of glucomannan
Being a fiber, glucomannan can reduce the absorption of any drugs, holding them back. It is therefore a good idea to consult your doctor about his or her employment opportunities in the event that chronic therapies are to be followed and the intake of medicines is to be distanced.
A high water supply is essential in order to reach the pre-established goal: otherwise, in fact, a condition of constipation could paradoxically take over
Other possible side effects (diarrhea, heaviness of the stomach) are mostly related to excessive intake. It can promote meteorism and reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
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Description of the plant
Konjac is a perennial herbaceous plant that is part of the well-known family of Aracee, to which also the calla belongs. The amorphophallus genus consists of about 200 species, some of which are among the most spectacular flowering plants.
The plant develops from a tuber (root) that has the shape of a giant apple and can reach several kilos of weight. From its center an inflorescence emerges in spring, even more than one and a half meters high, which takes a few weeks to develop completely: on a stem with a diameter of 3-4 cm.
A spadix of the same diameter is grafted, studded at the base with many tiny, unobtrusive flowers, and wrapped in a sort of leaf (spata) that widens into a cone shape within a few days, of a color and consistency very similar to the raw meat. The smell of this "flower", which recalls the strong smell of rotting flesh, allows the plant to attract insects that pollinate small flowers.
Another interesting detail is that the inflorescence emerges from the tuber, without this being able to supply water and nutrients from the soil, because at this stage it is still devoid of roots. Once withered the flower, from the same point, at the apex of the petiole more than one meter long and mottled green with brown color, will open a single jagged leaf that in the Anglo-Saxon world caused the plant to give the name of snake palm .
The glucomannan habitat
Originally from East Asia, it is widely cultivated in Japan.
Background
The tubers of many species of Amorphophallus are eaten in their countries of origin, but after careful cooking, because otherwise they are toxic. Glucomannan has been used in Asia for centuries in the preparation of traditional foods such as tagliatelle and tofu.
It is currently used in vegetarian cooking and in thermostable gelled food products. Glucomannan, being a natural vegetable gum, is also called Konjac gum .
It is generally used in the food industry as a gelling agent, thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer and soluble source of fiber. Konjac rubber has applications in many food industry products such as beverages, batters for breading, candies, salad dressings, soups, sauces, and many other packaged and frozen products.
