Introduction and the Statement of Interest
Glucomannans are water-soluble polysaccharides acting as a dietary fiber source. As opposed to other soluble fibers, glucomannans are characterized by an extremely high viscosity. Tester and Al-Ghazzewi (2017) report that they are derived from a variety of plant origins such as dicotyledons, conifers, and amorphophallus konjac corms, for all of which glucomannans play the role of energy reserves. In addition to that, they can be derived from various microorganisms: yeast, bacteria, or walls of fungal cells. According to Tester and Al-Ghazzewi (2017), as for food sources containing glucomannans, the most common ones are particular leguminous seeds and konjac plant, otherwise known as Voodoo Lily. People have been consuming these for centuries, with glucomannans especially popular in places where they are widely cultivated – that is, in Asia. The health benefits of these polysaccharides have been comprehensively studied, and there is proof that the consumption of glucomannans helps people lose weight, improve their blood and lipid profile, and facilitate gut health.
Synthesis of the Information on the Topic
As has been mentioned above, glucomannans have been consumed by Asian people for centuries, and konjac has been used by them as a source of food and a means of traditional medicine. However, it was not until the 1980s that Western researchers became interested in the way glucomannans can influence the process of nutrition and benefit one’s health. Once they did, they discovered a great deal of compelling material. For one, glucomannans, being highly absorbent and able to engulf an immense amount of liquid, produce the feeling of fullness with food. As a consequence, while consuming glucomannans, one can eat less yet stay full for longer, which means they can lose fat. According to studies involving the addition of these polysaccharides to calorie-restricted diets, groups consuming foods with glucomannans lose more fat than groups with non-fibered nutrition. Zhu (2018) cites the study indicating that its glucomannans-eating group over five weeks lost about 1.75 pounds more on average than the control group. Therefore, structuring one’s diet around the consumption of glucomannans is an excellent way to lose fat without feeling empty.
In addition to that, glucomannans are reported to contribute to a person’s fat loss and help their satiation by enhancing one’s lipid profile and blood sugar. Zhu (2018) reports that, according to a 2005 review, 2-4 grams of glucomannans every day, apart from increasing people’s efforts to reduce weight, improved their carb tolerance, blood lipids, and sense of satiation. MacPherson (2022) notes that elevated handling of starchy carbohydrates means elevated insulin sensitivity, which, in its turn, leads to optimized appetite control and reduced fluctuations of blood sugar or sweet cravings. Thus, a glucomannans-centered diet is not only a way to lose weight but to do that while improving one’s health.
Moreover, glucomannans advance gut health, which is achieved through strong gastric motility and a sound bacterial flora. For people on low-carbohydrate diets, a bowel movement becomes a major problem while their body adapts to lower grain and other fiber sources intakes. They tend to turn to bran or psyllium husk to solve this issue. However, MacPherson (2022) notes that instead of choosing whole foods with higher fiber content, the best choice might be choosing soluble fibers, which are contained in glucomannans. According to Zhu (2018), there is an outstanding increase of beneficial total bacteria, lactobacilli, and bifidobacteria in people consuming glucomannans. All this goes to show that one’s gut finds glucomannans in a person’s diet to be extremely advantageous.
Conclusion and the Value of the Topic
In conclusion, people including foods containing glucomannans in their diets are to experience a variety of benefits for their health. First of all, eating such foods is an excellent way to lose weight as these contribute to fat loss without leaving a person feeling unsatisfied by their meal. Additionally, glucomannans improve a person’s lipid profile and ensure that their blood sugar stays at low levels. Furthermore, these polysaccharides are helpful for one’s gut health, facilitating a good bowel movement and increasing the amount of beneficial bacteria. Those needing improvement in these areas of their health will find glucomannans a treasure trove.
References
MacPherson, R. (2022). The health benefits of glucomannan.Verywell Fit. Web.
Tester, R., & Al-Ghazzewi, F. (2017). Glucomannans and nutrition.Food Hydrocolloids, 68, 246-254. Web.
Zhu, F. (2018). Modifications of konjac glucomannan for diverse applications. Food Chemistry, 256, 419-426. Web.