Konjac
Species Name: Amorphophallus konjac.
Also known as: Glucomannan.
What is Konjac: Glucomannan is a dietary fiber derived from the tubers of Amorphophallus konjac. Konjac flour (made from these tubers) is used to make a jelly called konyaku, a common food product in Japan.
Home remedies using konjac:
Benefits of Konjac:
Foods high in fiber, such as oats, are known to help reduce cholesterol and improve constipation.
They may also help regulate blood sugar and assist in weight reduction by creating a feeling of fullness.
The problem is that many people have a hard time getting enough fiber from food, so they turn to fiber supplements, such as guar gum and pectin, to help fulfill their daily requirements.
Konjac, or Glucomannan, offers a tremendous advantage over these forms of fiber, because much smaller doses of konjac are needed to achieve the desired effect.
When glucomannan is placed in water, it can swell up to seventeen times its original volume. These qualities make it potentially quite convenient as a fiber supplement.
Uses of Konjac:
High Cholesterol, Constipation, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and Weight Loss
Several small controlled studies have found evidence to support the hypothesis that glucomannan is effective for improving cholesterol profiles. Glucomannan appears to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol and, according to some studies, increase HDL ("good") cholesterol. It may also improve blood pressure.
By expanding in the stomach, konjac might be useful for people trying to lose weight. Many people who use konjac report a feeling of fullness after taking konjac, and some studies found a significant weight loss among those taking it, compared to those on placebos.
It is also believed that konjac may also help the body to regulate blood sugar levels, and therefore could be helpful in treating diabetes. Additionally, konjac might be helpful for individuals who experience episodes of low blood sugar following stomach surgery.
Like other dietary fibers, konjac may help treat constipation.
Side Effects of Konjac:
Konjac has been a food product with a long history of use, and is believed to be safe. There are some concerns about taking glucomannan as a supplement.
Some people taking glucomannan complain of excess gas, stomach distension, or mild diarrhea. These symptoms usually lasted only a couple of days or went away when the dosage was reduced.
In a few cases, glucomannan tablets have caused obstruction of the esophagus when they expanded before reaching the stomach. In response to these reports, tablets of this type have been banned.
Capsules, however, do not seem to pose the same risk, because their casing prevents the konjac from contacting water until it reaches the stomach.
The dramatic expansion of konjac has also raised some concerns that it could cause an obstruction in the intestines; nonetheless, as of yet, there have been no reports of this actually happening.
