Detailed description, indications and contraindications for the use of konjac. The benefits and harms of the product, recipes for effective dishes and advice on how to take the product. Konjak for weight loss is a natural remedy that allows you to safely and quickly lose weight without harsh diets. It is of plant origin, almost never causes allergies and does not cause side effects. It can be used successfully by both women and men. The product helps with absolutely any body weight, the main thing here is to use it correctly.
What is Konjac
Konjak is a powder obtained by drying and grinding the roots of "Amorphophallus cognac". It is also popularly known as the snake palm or the devil's tongue. Numerous places of its growth have been found in Southeast Asia. This perennial plant lives at an altitude of at least 300 m above sea level in the tropics or subtropics. The first mention of it dates back to the 6th century, then it was used for cooking and various medicines. Amorphophallus cognac grows up to 1-2 m in height, resembling more a shrub than a tree. Its trunk is very narrow, its diameter does not exceed 3-5 cm. The leaves are deep green and oval in shape, reaching a length of 6-7 cm. The plant blooms 2 times a year, in spring and autumn. The tubers here are massive, flattened and heavy, have a diameter of about 35 cm, in one tree they can weigh more than 2-3 kg. In the upper part of the trunk, small roots extend from it, which, in fact, serve as the initial product for the preparation of konjac.
The finished product is often referred to as glucomannan or konjac flour, which dissolves easily and swells in water to form a gel-like gruel. It has a white color, a homogeneous structure and a mild herbal smell, it tastes like ordinary fiber or wheat bran. The mass is soft, pleasant, crumbly to the touch. Glucomannin is low-calorie, no more than 10 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Proteins - 1, 18 g;
- Fat - 0.4 g;
- Carbohydrates - 4 g.
It contains starch, calcium salts (1%) and alkaloids (3%). Lead, arsenic, radionuclides, strontium are included in the composition of harmful substances in small quantities.
In the CIS, the product is also known under the food additive E425 (thickener). It is used to give the mass a tablet, gel or jelly form. In this, konjac is not inferior to gelatin, agar-agar and pectin.
Such popular konjac fibers for weight loss are actively used in the food industry at the rate of no more than 10 g per 1 kg of other ingredients. It is this requirement that is specified in the sanitary and epidemiological rules and regulations of the Russian Federation "SanPiN 2.3.2.1293-03".
Flour from amorphophallus cognac is sold both by weight and in packaged form. It is packed in vacuum or foil bags of 20 g, 50 g, 100 g or more. The shelf life of the product is 1 year from the date of production. It should be stored in a dark place, protected from water and direct sunlight.
Useful properties of konjac for weight loss
This product is an excellent prebiotic, which nutritionists advise those who are losing weight to include in the menu in the first place. This is due to its ability to normalize the intestinal bacterial flora, in violation of which, its work simply slows down. As a result of this, problems with stool arise, fecal masses accumulate inside and body weight gain occurs. It is necessary to dwell in more detail on each of the effects obtained with the konjak:
- Absorbing excess fluid … If it is more than normal in the body, then the arrow of the scales will undoubtedly tend upward. The same product prevents such a sad process by sucking in unnecessary water and bringing it out.
- Cleansing the body … This agent has powerful anthelmintic properties, suppressing the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. They have been shown to increase hunger and overeat. If this happens in the evening, then excess weight will accumulate even faster.
- Saturation of the body … The product quickly suppresses appetite, gives satisfaction and soothes. As a result, the amount of food consumed and, accordingly, the calories received is reduced. With their deficit, the scales will start showing smaller numbers.
- Improving metabolism … By adding konjac to your menu, you can speed up metabolic processes by activating the breakdown of fats and their transformation into energy. This directly affects body weight, affecting it safely.
- Lowering blood sugar … With an increase in the amount of glucose, the feeling of hunger sharply aggravates, a person begins to eat more often and more. In the future, the process of breaking down fats slows down, and all of them are deposited under the skin. This applies to patients with the disease of both the first and second types.
- Short-chain fatty acid formation … They are formed predominantly from butyrate, after which they slow down the deposition of new fat and trigger the breakdown of old reserves.
- Laxative … Konjak tones up the intestinal walls, binds the feces in it and gently removes them outside without injuring this organ.
The available reviews of konjac for weight loss show that it is quite easily perceived by the body, is slowly processed and absorbed almost completely. The absence of a large number of calories in it is also very important, due to which it is possible to reduce the nutritional value of the diet without harm to health and significant discomfort.
In addition to all this, this remedy effectively resists atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke and thrombosis. Such effects are possible due to the normalization of lipid metabolism, lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood and cleansing it of other dangerous substances.
Contraindications to the use of konjac
In fact, konjac is an analogue of ordinary plant fiber, which doctors recommend using for weight loss. However, there are some contraindications to its use:
- Gastritis … If it aggravates, you should immediately abandon this product, since it is a source of large amounts of fiber. This substance irritates the walls of the gastric mucosa, which only worsens the situation. As a result of this action, the stomach can be very sore and swollen, the urge to vomit and weakness will disturb.
- Colitis … This disease is understood as inflammation of the intestinal walls, both of its individual parts, and of this entire organ. Its symptoms are abdominal cramps, heartburn, weakness, pain near the navel, and constipation. Konjak only exacerbates these effects.
- Pregnant women and children under 10 years of age … The intake of these fibers in these specific cases is possible only after consulting a doctor. If you start using it yourself, you can get severe allergies.
Rules for the use of konjac for weight loss
Fiber is best consumed as a pure powder like regular fiber. To combat excess weight, it is recommended to drink them in courses, for 1-2 months, after which you need to take a break for several weeks. The number of doses per day should be at least 2-3 times. Ideally, the first is for breakfast, the second for lunch, and the last for dinner. The tool is taken 30 minutes before the main meal.
Konjak flour cannot be dissolved in alcohol; this requires water, kefir, juice or any other non-alcoholic liquid. For 100 grams of it, 10 g of powder is required, the two ingredients are mixed and allowed to stand for 20-30 minutes. Since the mass does not taste very pleasant, you can add a little of any fruits or berries - strawberries, raspberries, apples or pears. The finished drink is divided into 2-3 times and drunk in small sips, without drinking water. Konjac can also be added to smoothies, cottage cheese or vegetable salads, 2-5 g at a time. In this form, it is allowed to be consumed at least constantly both for weight loss and for the prevention of excess weight. But remember that it is necessary to drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water per day. This is due to the fiber's ability to absorb fluid, which can lead to dehydration.
It is highly discouraged to use dry powder separately from liquid, that is, without first dissolving it. If this happens, it can swell up badly in the stomach or intestines, leading to bloating, severe nausea, diarrhea or constipation, and overall feeling unwell.
If you are losing weight, you can include noodles or rice in your diet based on this ingredient, which is widely popular in Japanese cuisine. They can replace classic side dishes without fear of gaining weight. Thus, reliable prevention of excess weight will be provided.
Slimming Konjac Recipes
Konjak is relevant in absolutely any dishes, both during breakfast and for lunch or dinner. In its raw form, it is still inedible and not very pleasant to the taste. Therefore, most often it is simply used in the preparation of pastries, any desserts or drinks, first courses. Konjac flour may well replace the usual wheat counterpart in the kitchen. It allows the mass to thicken without problems, which was highly appreciated by the inhabitants of Indonesia and Japan.
When choosing recipes with konjacu fibers, you should take a closer look at the following:
- Shirataki … Separate two yolks from the whites, mix them with cornstarch (3 tablespoons) and konjac flour (2 tablespoons). Then season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste, knead the dough and leave it in the refrigerator for one hour under cling film. After this time, roll it into a thin square layer no more than 0.3 cm thick. After that, cut the dough into strips, which must be laid out on a baking sheet and sent to the oven to dry at a minimum temperature. Leave it here for about 15 minutes without closing the door. Ready-made spaghetti can be simply cooked and eaten neat, or added to soups.
- Soup … First of all, you need to prepare the dumplings, for which mix the konjak powder (100 g) with milk, which is required so much to make the mass thick enough. Then peel and chop the potatoes, carrots and onions (1 each). Next, boil white chicken meat (150 g). After that, pour the vegetables into the broth, cook them for 15 minutes, add the dumplings and after 20 minutes salt and pepper and turn off the soup. At the end of the procedure, you can add a little dill or parsley.
- Yogurt … Combine a special starter culture (3 tablespoons) with cold boiled milk (300 ml). Add sugar (40 g) and konjac (2 tablespoons) to this mixture, boil it for 20 minutes over low heat. Then add strawberries (3 tablespoons) here, pour into a yogurt maker and ferment for 6-8 hours.
- Squash pancakes … Peel these vegetables (2 pcs.) And grate on a fine grater. Add konjac (2 tablespoons), salt and black pepper to taste, sour cream (1 tablespoon) and one egg. Then heat the pan well, pour it with vegetable oil and spoon out the prepared mass, like a dough for pancakes. Fry them on both sides, but not until golden brown, remove, rub with garlic and brush with low-fat sour cream. This dish can be served with any side dishes - buckwheat, rice, potatoes, it is very satisfying and tasty.
- Ginger tea … Pour this spice (2 tbsp. L.) 1 liter of water and dissolve in a mixture of 1 tbsp. l. konjac. Add honey to taste here, shake the mass well, heat and drink throughout the day. You cannot leave it for more than a day, otherwise there will be much less benefit from it. Such a drink turns out to be very strong and may not suit everyone's taste, therefore it is best to use it together with biscuit biscuits, in small quantities allowed for weight loss.
- Vegetable salad … Wash and chop green tomatoes (2 pcs.), Cucumber (1 pc.) Without peel, white onion "Sterling" (1 pc.). Now dissolve the konjac (1 tsp) in olive oil (3 tablespoons), pepper and salt the mixture, add it to the vegetables. Sprinkle the mixture with dill and peeled peanuts (20 g) on top.
- With kefir … Combine it (200 ml) with konjac (1 tsp), honey (1 tsp) and raspberries. Now whisk the mixture with a blender, heat it over low heat and drink it for breakfast or dinner. By the way, a dairy product should have a fat content of no more than 1%, preferably 0% in general. Remember that konjac flour swells rather quickly in liquid, so you don't need to mix them earlier than 30-60 minutes before cooking. Otherwise, the mass will turn out not too appetizing and not tasty.
How to use konjac for weight loss - watch the video:
It is simply impossible to guarantee you 100% that the weight loss konjac will help you become slimmer. But this remedy definitely works by normalizing metabolic processes, suppressing appetite, and starting the process of burning fat. But for the most part, it is a weight loss supplement, and therefore it is best to use it in addition to active physical activity.
