Glucomannan (Konjac) Powder

Botanical name:  Amorphallus konjac

Origin:  China

Therapeutic actions:  Hypoglycemic; Laxative.

Drug interactions:  No known interactions.

Description:  Konjac is a water-soluble dietary fiber that is derived from the Konjac root. The fresh Konjac tuber contains an average of 13% dry matter, 70% Konjac and the remaining 30% is starch. Historically, it has been used in traditional Asian foods such as noodles, tofu and other food products.

Internal uses:  By expanding in the stomach, it can be useful for people trying to lose weight. When Konjac is placed in water, it can swell up to 17 times its original volume. Several studies have suggested that it may help obesity, lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and high blood pressure.

Ingredients

Glucomannan (Konjac) Root Powder

Instructions

Drink it with water - Three times daily before each meal, briskly stir one lever teaspoon of Glucomannan powder in 8 ounces of water. Drink immediatly before it begins to gel. Use it as thickener - Glucomannan (Konjac) flour can be used as a thickening agent in food application. When using Glucomannan (Konjac) powder for thickening, always mix it with a small amount of liquid (cold water, stock, wine, etc.) till smooth, then add this mixture to the food that you want thickened. If you add Glucomannan (Konjac) powder directly to your food you will end up with a lumpy mess. Glucomannan (Konjac) powder doesn't thicken very much when mixed with cold water, but quickly thickens when it's heated. This is why you don't add dry Glucomannan (Konjac) powder directly to hot liquids. It will seize and immediately turn into lumps because the Glucomannan (Konjac) powder that contacts the water so quickly and fully absorbs the liquid before the adjacent Glucomannan (Konjac) powder can.

Glucomannan (Konjac) powder has about ten times the thickening power of cornstarch.

Suggested dosage:  3—4 grams daily for a laxative, 4—13 grams to lower cholesterol.