Konjac Fiber
Konjac Root Fiber Supplement
On a recent episode of "The View," Dr. Oz was a guest, and Barbara Walters asked him about "some pill you take before you eat to lose weight." Dr. Oz then replied that she was referring to the Konjac fiber pill.
Dr. Oz said the best way to use Konjac fiber is to take one pill before each meal with water then build up to two pills before each meal. He said the fiber in the Konjac root supplement helps you feel full so you eat less.
The Konjac root fiber sounded interesting to me since it is all natural, not some chemical concoction that is made in a lab. I plan to buy a bottle and give it a try myself since, yeah, I could lose some tonnage. Okay, not tonnage but some pounds.
Start your New Year's resolution to lose weight and give konjac fiber a shot.
Photo of my bottle of konjac fiber, also known as glucomannan. Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
How Does Konjac Fiber Work to Help Lose Weight?
Are There Any Konjac Fiber Side Effects?
According to Dr. Oz, Konjac fiber has the following positive features that aid in weight loss:
- First, it is all natural and contains nothing to hurt your body, so there are no Konjac root side effects.
- Konjac root fiber is the most potent form of natural fiber available. FIber helps us feel fuller and can help lose weight.
- The fiber in Konjac root helps stave off hunger.
- Taken 20 to 30 minutes before a meal with plenty of water, Konjac fiber helps you feel fuller so you eat less. (I have found that taking Konjac fiber closer to an hour before eating works better for me.)
Konjac Fiber Supplements - Lots of options to buy
The Nitty Gritty Facts about Konjac Fiber
The scientific name for Konjac root is glucomannan. It works as a laxative when taken in the dose of 3 to 4 grams per day. Before you get all freaked out about the word laxative, remember that fiber (roughage) is a laxative. That's what fiber's job is.
Glucomannan or Konjac root can help lower blood cholesterol when you take 4 to 13 grams per day.
To control blood sugar, take 500 to 700 mg of Konjac root per 100 calories of food eaten.
For weight loss, take 1 to 3 grams of Konjac root supplement before each meal.
For best results, drink at least 8 ounces of water with each supplement pill. This helps move the fiber through your body.
Source: Health Notes at Sprouts.com
Vegetarian Konjac Fiber
For Weight Loss
These vegetarian options allow you to use konjac fiber to stay on your vegetarian regime.
Nature's Way Glucomannan CapsCHECK PRICE
WellBetX PGX By Natural Factors - 180 CapsulesCHECK PRICE
Hunger Free Forever - The New Science of Appetite Control
Reading about how our bodies work may help you change your habits and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Konjac Noodles -- Konjac Fiber to Eat
Eating Konjac noodles or Konjac pasta is an option that lets you eat your konjac fiber instead of taking it in pill form. According to Dr. Oz, Konjac noodles have zero calories! None. Zip! That's amazing to me because as a carb lover, I sometimes skip pasta when I'd really like to eat a bowlful!
My Konjac Root Fiber Supplement Experiment
I went to Sprouts today to look at their selection of Konjac root fiber supplements. I was ready to buy a bottle and give it a shot, but the cheapest bottle was more than $20. I decided that was too pricey to try something I wasn't sure about. I decided to go home and check online. I'm glad I did.
I needed to order some other things, so I ordered a bottle online. I should have my Konjac root fiber next Wednesday or Thursday (the first week of June). I'll add updates here of how my Konjac root fiber experiment goes.
May 29:
While I'm still waiting on my Konjac fiber pills to arrive, I am working on drinking more water. I like water, especially when it's hot out (and I'm in Arizona, so it's hot out). I will shoot for 10 glasses of water a day. I know I drink at least 8 glasses but don't keep track of the exact number. I drink cold water from the fridge so when I pour a fresh glass, I'll note it. Off to put a chart on the fridge to track my water intake.
June 1:
I had a knock on my door this morning and the UPS man delivered my Konjac fiber pills. So, 20 minutes before lunch I drank a glass of water with one of the pills. I had a somewhat normal lunch (for me): 1 slice of whole wheat bread with egg salad made from 2 eggs; 1/4 of a cucumber, sliced; a fresh tomato; and 10 blackberries. Oh and another glass of water. I say this was a somewhat normal lunch for me because I usually eat something like this but have been known to skip one or both of the vegetables and enjoy some tater chips instead. I am going to attempt to "be good" and eat sensibly without going overboard. It's now about an hour after eating and I do feel full. I'm drinking another glass of water because I guess this Konjac fiber expands so I want to give it all the help I can to move it along. I'll update this status as I have news. Please share your stories of using Konjac fiber in the comments below.
June 10:
It's been 10 days since I started using the Konjac fiber, and I just realized I've only been taking 1 capsule, not 2, before meals. I will start taking 2 to see what happens. I must say that the bloating and "big belly" feelings I was having have diminished. That alone feels great! I guess it's menopause, but the belly fat problem has invaded my body. Since I started taking the Konjac supplements, I've felt fuller after eating and stay fuller longer. So, I have to say, so far so good.
June 24:
Okay, it's been more than 3 weeks since I started using the Konjac fiber. I am a menopausal woman (going through it, not there quite yet so I guess the term is peri-menopause). That said, in the past few years I've found it pretty much impossible to lose weight. At all. I have not lost any weight using Konjac fiber but I have seen the following benefits:
- less bloating
- less of a big belly (that upper belly I'd developed that I never had before has "gone down" somewhat)
- feel fuller longer after meals, which is huge for me
- more frequent and regular BMs, which helps a person feel like a new woman!
All in all, I think this product has merit. I probably am not using it 100% correctly since a few days here and there I forget to take it entirely, such as if I'm away from home or get busy. That coupled with being menopausal has not shown the results I had hoped for but I'm not disappointed.
August 15:
Here's an update on my use of konjac root fiber. Frankly, I forget to take the fiber supplements each day so have not been a consistent user. When I do take it regularly, I feel lighter and less bloated. It does help me feel full longer. I also noticed that if I took the fiber closer to an hour before a meal (rather than 15 or 20 minutes), it seemed to work better for me. I think all of our bodies are a little different so if you try using konjac fiber, vary the time you take it to see what works best for you.
I'd love to hear your experience with Konjac fiber. Please leave a comment below with your experience.
Readers Share Their Experiences with Konjac Fiber
The following readers have used konjac fiber and left their experiences using it in the Comments section. I've copied their comments here:
- I have been taking Konjac root capsules for 4 weeks and 1 day. So far, I have lost 16 pounds without a struggle at all. I feel full, and since I feel full, my cravings are almost gone!
~Carol
- Yes, I have used konjac but we called it glucomannan in Herbal school. Anyway, many people have great results using it. Nowadays I tell everyone who asks to take probiotics no matter what else you are doing too. Really enjoyed the way you wrote about this:)
~Heather
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