Glucomannan is a form of soluble fiber that is derived from the konjac plant. It is a popular component in Asian foods and folk wellness practices, offering wellness benefits such as:
- Supporting normal cholesterol & blood sugar levels.**
- Promoting healthy weight management.**
- Optimizing digestive efficiency & comfort.**
What is Glucomannan?
For thousands of years, the konjac plant, or Amorphophallus konjac, has been an important ingredient in the culinary and health traditions of Japan, China and Southeast Asia. When dried and pounded, the plant’s tuberous root plant forms a fiber-rich flour. Konjac flour has long been used to make noodles and a jelly called konyaku in Japan, as well as used to promote respiratory, skin and digestive health in traditional Chinese wellness practices. In recent decades, the root’s soluble dietary fiber – called glucomannan – has grown popular in the West as a nutritional supplement for weight management, heart health and digestive wellness.**
Research suggests that purified konjac flour, also known as konjac glucomannan or KGM, may have a stabilizing effect on blood lipid levels: It helps to promote healthy levels of “good,” or HDL cholesterol, while maintaining levels of “bad,” or LDL cholesterol that are already within normal range. Additional research suggests that KGM may help the body to regulate blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and by slowing the rate at which the stomach empties after eating, leading to a more gradual absorption of sugars.**
When combined with liquids, this type of dietary fiber expands up to 17 times its original volume – a bulking effect that leads to a feeling of fullness, which helps reduce the urge to consume more food. With satiety-promoting, digestion-regulating and blood sugar-balancing properties, glucomannan may offer powerful nutritional support for weight management programs that include a sensible diet and regular exercise.**
In addition to assisting with weight loss, KGM’s bulk-forming properties aid in digestion, helping the body to form larger stools that are easier to pass. Its prebiotic qualities nourish friendly flora in the gut, helping to create thriving probiotic colonies. Further investigations suggest that KGM may also hold promise in other areas of health, including thyroid and blood pressure wellness.**
Glucomannan Supplements
Supplements are sourced from the tuberous roots of the konjac plant, which grows across East Asia. KGM comes in capsule, tablet or powder form. These supplements may be taken with eight ounces of water approximately one hour before meals to assist with healthy weight management.**
Glucomannan Directions for Use
Seek advice from a health care provider prior to starting any supplement regimen. There is no standard recommended allowance for this supplement; dosage ranges from 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg per serving. It is important to take this supplement with at least eight ounces of water.**
