Glucomannan and weight loss: all the benefits listed!

Glucomannan, chances are you’ve never heard of this substance before. If you want to lose a few pounds, you really should! Glucomannan is a natural dietary fibre derived from the Konjac plant. No, it has nothing to do with alcohol. What’s even more interesting is that glucomannan is known to be an effective aid during dieting. In fact, even the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has recognised that Glucomannan, in the context of a calorie-restricted diet, can contribute to weight loss! And that’s not the only benefit, as glucomannan also helps maintain normal cholesterol levels in the blood. Sounds too good to be true? Then read on!

What exactly is Glucomannan?

As mentioned above, glucomannan is a fibre derived from the root of the Konjac plant. More specifically, glucomannan is a water-soluble dietary fibre with an enormous capacity to absorb water, up to 50 times its own weight! In tests where glucomannan was placed in a glass of water, the entire contents of the glass turned into a gel with high viscosity. This is exactly what makes glucomannan so unique compared to other dietary fibres. It may contain the same amount of kilocalories, but because it absorbs so much water, it creates a significant amount of stomach filling for only about 20 kilocalories. The fact that glucomannan attracts so much liquid is precisely why it works so well in combination with a calorie-restricted diet: by filling your stomach, it creates a better sense of fullness, making you less likely to overeat after consuming it (and as you may know, preventing hunger is the key to any successful diet). A common strategy is to take glucomannan 30 to 15 minutes before a meal. This reduces the chances of overeating during the meal—especially useful if you have a big dinner planned with an abundance of food. It helps you keep things under control. Because of the fullness glucomannan creates, it also takes longer for your body to process the food in your stomach, which contributes to a longer feeling of satiety. As always, this is the theory, so let’s see if scientific research supports it!