Konjac is a root vegetable. They are grows in parts of Asia. It is a perennial plant, growing from a large corm up to 25 cm in diameter and a tuber-like part of the stem that grows underground. The corm is used to make a rich source of soluble dietary fiber called Glucomannan. The single leaf is up to 1.3 m across, bipinnate, and divided into numerous leaflets. The flowers are up to 55 cm long and produced on a spathe enclosed by a dark purple spadix. People use konjac as traditional medicine and used as a food source to make snacks and noodles.
Benefits:
- Konjac contains glucomannan that works in the following diseases:
- The stomach and intestines absorb water to form a bulky fiber that treats constipation.
- It might also slow the absorption of sugar and cholesterol in the gut which helps to control sugar levels in diabetes people and reduce cholesterol levels respectively.
- It’s used for high blood pressure and obesity.
- In foods, glucomannan powder and flour are used as a thickening agent and as a source of dietary fiber
Side effects:
Taking glucomannan products without water is possibly unsafe that might cause choking and other serious side effects when taken without water, especially in tablet form.
Precaution:
Taken glucomannan product with plenty of water.
Interaction :
Be careful with this combination:
- Oral drugs that interact with glucomannan can decrease how much medicine the body absorbs. To prevent this interaction, take glucomannan at least one hour after the medications you take orally.
Dosing:
As medicine,
- In adults dose of glucomannan is 3-4 grams daily for up to 3 months by oral route.
- In children, glucomannan doses of 2-5 grams daily for up to 4 months by oral route.
The advice of your healthcare provider is to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
