Meet the weight-loss wonder fibre
Glucomannan
Struggling to lose weight
after the holiday season? Get
on to glucomannan, a natural
ingredient set to revolutionise
slimming down.
It doesn’t really seem fair that weight
goes on so easily yet is incredibly hard to get
rid of again. If you’ve noticed your waistline
thickening or been told by your doctor to lose
a few kilos, there’s hardly any doubt you’re
struggling with your weight-loss goals. Rest
assured, you’re not the only one. The diet
industry is worth millions of dollars each
year, but if taking tablets hasn’t worked,
there’s no time to count every calorie and
replacing meals with milkshakes leaves
you with a very empty feeling inside, there
is a solution. One that will have you feeling
satisfied and energetic enough to keep going
all day. After all, there’s nothing worse than
struggling to the gym or through a day at
work if your stomach is rumbling like an
oncoming thunder storm.
The secret to satiating hunger is actually
very simple. You need to boost your fibre
intake, since that ¬– particularly when it’s
combined with a portion of lean protein – is
what makes you feel fuller for longer. And
there is a special plant that produces a type
of natural fibre that is a blessing for anyone
trying to lose weight.
All about glucomannan
Products that include glucomannan,
a natural fibre extracted from the root
of the konjac plant, might just prove to
be the ingredient that helps you achieve
your weight-loss goals. It’s been used for
centuries throughout Southeast Asia for both
culinary and medicinal purposes, and now
it’s available in Australia (and beyond) as
the major ingredient in Slendier’s pasta and
noodle products.
Glucomannan is a water-soluble fibre
with an extraordinary ability to absorb
liquid. It’s so absorbent, in fact, that just
one teaspoon of it can turn almost an entire
glass of water into a thick gel. That’s a great
benefit for you if you’re watching what you
eat, since its expanding form leaves you
feeling fuller for longer.
The ingredient has many other benefits,
too. It helps slow the emptying process in
the stomach, helping you feel satisfied for
longer periods of time. The added benefit of
that, of course, is it’s much easier to reduce
your overall calorie consumption if you don’t
feel hungry all the time. Plus, as with all
water-soluble dietary fibres, glucomannan
reduces the absorption of fat. When eaten
regularly, it also helps lower cholesterol and
stabilise blood glucose levels.
The truth about carbohydrates
If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘Well,
real pasta makes me feel full, too,’ you
only need take a look at the ingredients
list to know that it isn’t created equal.
Because most of the pasta people consume
is produced using refined white flour –
they fall into the classification of simple
carbohydrates – the body breaks them down
quickly, releasing sugars and starches into
the blood stream much faster than they can
18 Complete Health
be used. It spikes blood sugar levels and only
gives you a fleeting sense of fullness. As a
result, we often eat more than we should
then start peeking back into the fridge soon
after to see if we can find a snack.
The high fibre content of Slendier’s
konjac pasta and noodle varieties means
they are broken down slowly giving a lasting
sense of satiety and a more controlled
release of sugars into the bloodstream. That
ensures your body is supplied with a stable
level of energy throughout the day, which is
particularly beneficial if you’re one of those
people who usually suffers from the 3pm
slump.
Get more on your plate
Slendier pasta and noodles made from
konjac have plenty of other benefits, too. For
those with allergies and intolerances, they
are gluten and dairy free. They also contain
no fat or sugar.
Unlike other alternatives to traditional
wheat pasta, Slendier’s konjac noodles
and konjac pasta still have a hearty texture
and, incredibly, they have only 13 calories
per serve and zero carbohydrates. Konjac
noodles and pasta have a neutral flavour,
making them the perfect foundation for most
toppings.
Plus, they come in six different
varieties, including angel hair pasta, which
is particularly good paired with healthy
primavera sauces, and rice for those who
can’t live with a stir-fry or bowl of risotto.
Not only do konjac products provide
a ‘fiesta of fibre’ to the delight of dieters,
they allow family favourites like spaghetti
carbonara and Pad Thai to remain on the
menu.