Glucomannan, or glucomannan konjac (KGM) is a supplement that’s used for maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar, and relieving constipation, among other health issues. It’s only recently become popular in the United States and Europe, but Asian countries have enjoyed its benefits for thousands of years. The positive effects of glucomannan, including its impact on cholesterol and the immune system, have even become the focus of research.[1]
Glucomannan: A Brief History
For the past two decades, the use of glucomannan as a dietary supplement and food additive has been on the rise in Europe and the United States. Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, however, have been enjoying konjac glucomannan as a healthy food and traditional medicine for more than 2000 years. The use of glucomannan can be traced back to an old Chinese poem from the third century describing its preparation process. It is thought that in the sixth century Korean Buddhists brought it to Japan. In traditional Chinese medicine, glucomannan is believed to help with asthma, hernia, cough, burns, skin conditions, and other ailments.[2]
What Are the Health Benefits of Glucomannan?
Several clinical trials have studied the impact of glucomannan on health. The results confirmed many beneficial effects. It’s shown to:[3]
- Encourage normal body weight
- Reduce food cravings
- Support normal blood sugar
- Promote healthy, balanced cholesterol
Glucomannan has the potential to act as a therapy for insulin resistance syndrome. It also enhances the immune system in several areas of the body, especially the gut. Glucomannan has a positive effect on triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose.[4, 5]
Glucomannan & Weight Loss
Glucomannan’s claim to weight loss is owed to its ability to absorb water quickly and form a gel which fills the stomach, giving you a feeling of being full. Food calories that get caught up in this gel are more likely to be excreted out of the body rather than be absorbed. It also reduces the appetite-inducing hormone ghrelin.[6]
A 2015 study suggested that glucomannan supplementation reduced both body fat and weight without the loss of lean mass or bone density sometimes associated with weight loss.[7] In further studies, when compared to other supplements that did nothing, the use of a glucomannan supplement by healthy overweight individuals prompted significant weight loss.[8]
Glucomannan & Cholesterol
In most Western countries, more than 50 percent of the population have high cholesterol levels. A dietary fiber with significant cholesterol-lowering effects, either as a dietary supplement or as a natural component of the of the diet, has the potential to help promote normal cholesterol within the general population. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that daily ingestion of glucomannan resulted in the lowering of total cholesterol levels by ten percent.[9]
Glucomannan & Fasting Blood Glucose
Your pancreas releases insulin to lower blood sugar, breaking it down so that the body can store it for later or use it right away for energy. High fasting blood sugar means that your body is unable to complete this process effectively. Over the long term, this can lead to diabetes.
Several studies have evaluated the natural benefits of glucomannan for patients with diabetes. A 2006 study examined the effects of plant sterols and glucomannan on diabetic subjects. The results suggest that glucomannan combined with plant sterols substantially improves plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations.[10]
In another study, multiple tests showed that fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were significantly reduced after konjac food was ingested for one and two months. Researchers suggested that konjac food may be useful for hyperglycemia.[11]
Can Glucomannan Help With Constipation?
While the body of research is smaller than with psyllium, a commonly used laxative, glucomannan has much of the same potential. Constipation is a frequent condition in western countries, but dietary fiber, such as that found in glucomannan, can often help alleviate this issue.
Constipation in Adults
Occasional constipation affects us all at one time or another, but natural remedies can help get things moving again. In one study, adult patients with constipation took a glucomannan supplement. Due to glucomannan’s natural fiber, the patients reported a significant improvement after taking the supplement for only a month. The results were long-lasting and had no major side-effects. Researchers concluded that glucomannan could be an effective therapeutic aid in the management of constipation.[12]
Constipation in Children
Constipation is common in children and typically results from an unhealthy diet, a change in environment and schedule, or simply avoiding going to the bathroom. A 2004 study was done to evaluate whether a fiber supplement was beneficial for children who are constipated. It found that using a glucomannan supplement had a positive effect. Children who were already on laxatives still benefited from this fiber supplement.[13]
Constipation During Pregnancy
Whether it’s due to stress, lack of exercise, a low fiber diet, or the uterus pressing up against the intestines, constipation happens frequently to women who are pregnant. Some remedies normally used to control constipation, like laxatives, can result in uterine contractions and dehydration.
In one study, pregnant females affected by constipation were provided with a mixture containing glucomannan twice a day for one to three months. This therapy resulted in normal bowel movements. As a bonus, because of glucomannan’s hunger control properties, some women who experienced disproportionate weight gain were better able to curb food cravings.[14]
Glucomannan & Exercise
Exercise is a good way to encourage a healthy body weight and overall wellness, but studies have shown that the benefits of exercise are multiplied when it’s coupled with a glucomannan supplement. In a study of people who were sedentary and overweight, a glucomannan supplement was added to a regular exercise regime. The results showed that proper exercise and a glucomannan diet encouraged weight loss more effectively than exercise alone.[15]
A separate study on the same effect confirmed these results. Daily glucomannan supplementation paired with regular exercise helped to reduce overall caloric intake. Fat mass in both males and females was significantly reduced.[15]
Glucomannan & Your Gut
Over the last 25 years, interest has escalated regarding the role dietary fiber plays in the microbiota, particularly concerning prebiotics. Observational evidence shows that a diet high in fiber is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. These results may be related to the effect of dietary fiber on the gut microbiota and its ability to promote healthy gut bacteria. Most research has shown positive effects of dietary fiber, like glucomannan, on gut function.[16]
Ways to Consume Glucomannan
Glucomannan is commonly available as a tablet, capsule, flour, or powder. Many people will simply take a capsule or tablet with water before meals or sprinkle a power over whatever they’re eating.
The nutrient is also found in tofu and other foods. When it comes to these foods, glucomannan is primarily used in konjac flour, a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine. This flour is used to make a variety of noodles, most notably the shirataki noodle. Glucomannan as an ingredient is enjoyed for its texture, which tends to assume the taste of whatever foods with which it is cooked.[17]
What’s the Best Serving Size?
Glucomannan is a powerful, bulk-forming supplement, so it’s best taken in small servings with plenty of water at first. You can gradually increase your serving size as your body acclimates. The recommended daily servings of glucomannan are:
- Relieving occasional constipation: 3-4 grams
- Promoting normal cholesterol: 4-13 grams
- Encouraging normal blood sugar: 500–700 mg of glucomannan per every 100 calories of food in your
- Supporting a healthy body weight: 2-4 grams before each meal[1, 17,18]
This table is only a guideline, consult a healthcare provider before use to find a serving size that works best for you.
What Are the Side Effects?
Side effects of glucomannan are rare, but some people may experience an allergic reaction including rash, itching, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the throat and mouth. Other potential side effects include:
- Gas
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
One thing to consider is that capsules may be safer than tablets. Tablets can stick to the back of the throat, causing difficulty swallowing. This issue worsens when water is taken to wash the tablet down, causing the fiber to expand further.
Some users of glucomannan have reported blockage of the intestines, and intestinal damage due to bloating in the intestines.[19, 20]
Who Should Try Glucomannan?
Based on varying research and studies, glucomannan has been used by people who have constipation, high cholesterol, insulin resistance syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and people who want to lose weight and body fat. Although the benefits of glucomannan are many, consult your healthcare practitioner before beginning supplementation for advice and instructions.
If you’re interested in getting a jump-start on your path to a healthier weight, try Slimirex®. This supplement is a blend of powerful herbs that fire up your metabolism, help control your appetite, and energize your body in a natural way.
What’s Your Story?
Have you taken glucomannan? What kind of supplement did you use? What was your reason, and did it work? We’d love to hear your story. Please tell us about your experience in the comments section below.
The post The Health Benefits of Glucomannan appeared first on Dr. Group's Healthy Living Articles.
source https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/health-benefits-glucomannan/
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