Now here is some serious info on what exactly these noodles are and can do for you., Konjac What exactly is konjac? KonjacFresh KonjacKonjac (pronounced CON-JACK) is a low calorie vegetable that can grow up to 25 centimetres in diameter and is a dietary staple throughout many Asian countries. Known as the devils tongue for its unusual appearance, it is often used as a dietary supplement for weight management thanks to the way it leaves consumers full without overloading them on carbohydrates. Research also indicates soluble fibres such as glucomannan, derived from the konjac root, may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, slow glucose absorption and promote regular bowel movements. While soluble fibre is found in many sources such as fruit, vegetables and oats, the most promising comes from glucomannan as it has incredible water-holding capacity and is the thickest of all known dietary fibres. Whats so great about it? By creating a thick gel, glucomannan delays emptying of the stomach and slows the release of sugar into the blood stream, helping to lower the levels of insulin and blood glucose. In turn, this leaves you feeling fuller for a longer period of time and helps prevent unnecessary snacking in between meals. Its a natural appetite suppressant that assists in a healthy lifestyle and tastes delicious. Perfect! According to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, after daily consumption over several weeks, glucomannan can lead to a reduction of blood sugar and cholesterol levels and can promote weight loss. Furthermore, daily intake of glucomannan was found to lower glucose by an average of 7.4mg/dl after five weeks. Dietician and Nutritionist, Gabrielle Maston says, Many Australians have trouble eating the recommended daily fibre intake but given that glucomannan contains 85%-95% soluble dietary fibre, introducing konjac into the diet is an easy and simple way of getting the required amount to lead a healthy, active life. In addition, recent research has shown those who eat at least the recommended daily intake of fibre live longer – every 10g increase in daily fibre intake is linked to a 10 per cent lower mortality rate. Konjac also helps to stimulate the absorption and digestion of protein and other nutritious substances while keeping the intestines clean and assisting the movement of the bowels. Given that it works as a natural laxative, it is often used to assist people with intestinal and digestive problems. Konjac is extremely low in calories, high in fibre and low in fat so it is ideal for people trying to lose weight. In fact, konjac is 97% water and 3% glucomannan and therefore contains no bad carbohydrates. It is also an excellent vegan substitute for gelatine and given that all our konjac noodles are gluten free, it is ideal for sufferers of gluten intolerances and those with Coeliac disease. Konjac contains an alphabet of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, E, D, B1, B2, B6, B12 and C as well as folic acid, copper, zinc and of course dietary fibre. The benefits of including konjac into a balanced diet include: • Reduction of the absorption of cholesterol • Prevention of obesity • Treatment for constipation • Promotion of the excretion of toxins • Lowered blood pressure Where does it come from? konjacmountainbrightA Konjac fieldThe konjac plant grows all across Japan, China and South East Asia and has been used for more than one thousand years as both a source of food, as well as for medicinal purposes ranging from asthma, burns, breast pain and skin disorders. At first, konjac was used as a precious gift between monks in the form of medicine and cakes and was used to treat patients who suffered from obesity, type two diabetes and with unstable blood sugar levels. Since then it has become extremely popular as a regular part of the Japanese diet. The plant has a single large leaf that rises out of a corm or root, with the corm being the part that is typically used in cooking. A flour or pasta can be made out of the starchy corm, known as glucomannan, and is used in Japan to make noodles or konjac tofu. How do we use it? Image-20Konjac can be used in anythingKonjac comes in various forms such as powder or capsules, as well as noodles and pasta which can be easily incorporated into a typical diet by using it as a replacement for regular white wheat pasta, noodles or rice. Gabrielle Maston also states, Konjac has very little flavour, so its great as a base for your favourite pasta or noodle dishes, where the sauce flavours are really allowed to shine. Noodles made from konjac thickening in the stomach, making it an excellent addition to meals to add substance, without adding unnecessary fat or calories. Although light in texture, the expanding noodles leave the eater feeling fuller for longer – a great way to avoid after-dinner snacks, fat-filled treats and afternoon binges.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 05:48:01 +0000
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