Konjac Glucomannan

Water-Soluble Fiber Minus Calories

1.Hypertonic constipation, or spastic constipation.

2.It is proven to increase the frequency of bowel movements for Chronic constipation in children with severe brain damage.

3.Heck, it is also proven to cure chronic idiopathic constipation. One gram of glucommanan per day significantly improves mouth to cecum transit time. In fact 4 grams per day is said to produce optimum results. Authors Dimitris Charalampopoulos and Robert A. Rastall have good reason to say: "The anti-constipation effects of ( konjac ) glucomannan are well established."

From Oriental to Universal

Indians call it elephant yam. Chinese call it devil's taro. However, it's actually the corm which "bears no marked relation to tubers of the family..." according to Wikipedia.

To vegans, it's a source of vegan gelatin. To some children it's the fruit jelly cups. To the Japanese, it is Ito-konnyaku, shirataki, a part of their culture where they have "Konnyaku Day"! If you think it is not part of your culture. Hello? It's in your food additives!

Choking Hazard

There has been fatal choking incidents involving fruit jellies that caused them to be banned in U.S.,Canada and the European Union.

The manufacturer in the choking story above has stopped producing them. Though in other places such as people in my city which adores trashy food still produce fruit jellies. I personally know many kids who grow up on fruit jellies. There is a kind of white flat konnyaku that functions as a sort of vegetarian squid, so I use that to con the kids to take in some fiber. The shape and size of this food is of life-and-death importance apart from the alertness of the chewer. I cut mine reasonably thin.

Let me do my part: KONNYAKU MAY CHOKE. GLUCOMANNAN MAY CHOKE. EAT WITH CARE.

._________________.

Dangerously Good

"End of nagging, now as one of the foods that relieve constipation, there're fringe benefits attached."

1. Every 100 grams of konnyaku contains 0.1 g non-soluble fiber and 2.1 g soluble fiber. Depending on the manufacturer, I would say Japanese sources are almost zero calories. Therefore, it is said to have the "potential" to treat constipation.

2. Health benefits of soluble fiber - it normalizes the level of blood sugar, cholesterol, increases good bacteria in the intestine.

3. Yeap, it makes you full but it is not fattening. Again don't go to the other extreme by eating too much because you will die of malnutrition/anorexia complications.

4. This is something I like: For a long time I have been searching for a way to supplement calcium. However, most calcium supplements in the market - as usual - are not that soluble hence cannot be absorbed by the body. Soluble supplements are ridiculously expensive. Konnyaku is rich in calcium readily soluble in gastric juice. Yay!

If you happen to see packets of konjac food products while shopping, why not get some? It may be a versatile addition to your ongoing effort to diversify your healthy diet.

Reference:

Prebiotics and probiotics science and technology, Volume 1, Dimitris Charalampopoulos, Robert A. Rastall

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