Saturday 18 August 2012

Health Benefits of the Konjac Noodle


No one can seem to escape the new popularity of the Konjac Noodle. It is everywhere on the internet and Asian stores are promoting the noodle as a great addition to weight loss plans, as well as a healthy regular diet.

The Konjac Noodle popularly known as the Shirataki Noodle is made from powdered yam flour. The Yam, is not a typical yam, and is referred to as the Elephant Yam. It can also be known as the Devil's Tongue and Snake Palm in other regions. It is actually the Konjac plant and not related to the yam family. It has no tubers, and the flour is made from the dried root. One root can weigh an average of 10lbs and can produce a large amount of flour.

The health benefits of the Konjac Noodle may be too many to list. One of the many benefits is not only can the noodle aid in reducing cholesterol, bad triglycerides and LDL, but can help regulate sugar levels. Alternatively, for anyone needing to watch their insulin, these noodles are a great addition to any diet.

The benefits of this wonder noodle are attributed to the highly soluble fiber content called glucomaanan. Glucomaanan is an emollient polysaccharide fiber containing manose and glucose sugars. This fiber does not digest but forms a jelly like mass which cleanses the system of unwanted fatty deposits and toxins. Its slow movement through the digestive system is what lends its sugar regulating abilities by giving your body ample time to absorb the sugars. It also keeps the body from insulin spiking and creating too much insulin.

The Konjac noodle is a great dietary aid for those who are looking for ways to lose weight. It can be used in any recipe for pasta as a pasta replacement. You can remove the guilt and give into the craving of pasta. The Konjac Noodle has no carbs or calories and is rated as an Atkins Approved Diet food. Not only does it carry no points when counting calories, but it removes the sludge that seems to slow us down and make us tired. If you replace just one dish a day with the Konjac noodle, you will begin to feel lighter and have more energy. This can be great for those looking to add exercise to their weight loss regimen to boost results.

Darren McDuffie is a nutrition education and weight loss management specialist. He is passionate about helping people reach their weight loss goals and has recently discovered a wonder food called Miracle Noodles.  Shirataki Noodles