There are so many weight loss products on the market and the plethora of choices can be seriously overwhelming for someone who’s been through the mill of solutions and diets that just never seem to work. The reality is there’s no quick fix, weight loss is an ongoing lifestyle change meaning you must adapt your diet to one that’s healthier. At first it may seem particularly tricky finding the perfect balance between eating lighter foods and staying satiated. There are, however, numerous options available out there and one such food is the Konjac root.

The Konjac root is a Japanese root vegetable which has been used in dishes for many years. It can be adapted into a delicious kind of noodle which is virtually devoid of calories and helps tremendously with weight loss. Additionally, it’s densely packed with a variety of nutrients which benefit a host of other aspects of good health.

Konjac Root and Health
Konjac root is a soluble fiber called glucomannan which may sound familiar because it’s commonly featured in a lot of weight-loss products. It is not certain how glucomannan works but research shows that it works by absorbing water in the stomach forming a thick gel which delays digestion and makes you feel full longer. Also it can prevent the absorption of carbohydrates. Glucomannan can also help control blood sugar and lower cholesterol levels.

Evidence for Weight Loss
Research shows that Konjac helped a group of obese people lose more weight and fat than a group who took placebos.

Safety Concerns
When taken for a short time, up to 16 weeks, Konjac root seems safe although some have claimed to have side effects like gas and constipation, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Consider Low-Cal Konjac Root Food
Konjac roots is good for losing weight but in Japan this root is used to make low calorie foods like Shirataki noodles, spaghetti-like noodles which are low in both calories and carbs. Konjac root is also used to make a similarly low-calorie rice which is carb-free and a great substitute for traditional white rice which has far more calories.

Here’s a picture of Weight Watcher’s Skinny Pasta, which is a Konjac Root-based dish one of my clients swears by and which is widely available in most supermarkets.