What Glucomannan Can Do to Help You Lose Weight!

By Marcelina Hardy, Staff Writer Monday, February 20, 2012

The worst part of dieting is the hunger pains. All you want to do is stop eating junk food, but when you eat healthy foods your stomach grumbles at you. It’s enough to drive you mad. Some days, you just can’t take it and cheat on your diet.

What if you didn’t have to cheat anymore and could actually feel full when you’re on a diet? Yes, it’s true. With glucomannan, you can finally stop your stomach’s hunger cries.

How It Helps You Feel Full
Glucomannan is a water soluble dietary fiber derived from the konjac plant. It has been proven to help relieve constipation and lower blood sugar, cholesterol and weight.

When mixed with water, glucomannan becomes thick like a gel, capable of reaching a volume as much as 17 times its original size. The expanded fiber takes up space in your stomach and intestines, providing that full feeling.

While glucomannan is in your stomach and intestines, it absorbs fat to help it pass quickly through your body instead of accumulating. It also soaks up extra sugar and cholesterol, helping your body excrete it, which can lower your blood sugar and cholesterol.

Support for Weight Loss Success with Glucomannan
Do the effects of glucomannan sound too good to be true?  Researchers have found evidence that, when taken regulalry, glucomannan can help with weight loss.

In a double blind study published in Pub Med, participants were given two 500 milligram capsules each with eight ounces of water. They drank the jellified liquid one hour before meals, three times a day. The participants in this study were told not to change their diet or exercise regimens. Within two weeks, the participants who took the glucomannan lost five and a half pounds. Their cholesterol levels were also significantly lower.

In another study, participants lost approximately ten pounds in 16 weeks, while the placebo group lost less than two pounds. Participants also reported reduced hunger during the trial.

Dr. Mehmet Oz recommends glucomannan one hour before dinner every day. He reports when individuals eat a diet that includes snacks of 200 calories, six grams of fiber and ten grams of protein it will significantly boost their weight loss efforts.

How to Use Glucomannan in Your Diet
In both studies, the researchers did not ask the participants to change their regular diet and exercise program. Even though they didn’t reduce their caloric intake or increase their physical activity, they still lost weight. Combining glucomannan with a healthy diet and exercise program can significantly increase your weight loss results.

When first switching to a healthy diet and increasing your physical activity, you feel hungry. With glucomannan, you feel fuller from less food, so you won’t have the cravings you normally do when you reduce your calorie intake. You will also get the most out of your exercise routine by not eating high-calorie foods afterwards.

Precautions with Glucomannan
Glucomannan is a natural supplement. However, due to its thickening qualities, it can result in gastrointestinal obstruction for individuals who have a history of this condition. It’s important to speak to your doctor before taking glucomannan to rule out any precipitating health issues.