Descriptions: Nature's Way Glucomannan - 180 VCAPS

What is Glucomannan?

Glucomannan is a dietary fiber source from the root of the konjac plant.

Glucomannan is an excellent addition to a sensible weight loss program.

Diet and Lifestyle for Healthy Weight Loss 

Dietary advice with regard to weight loss is plentiful; just go into your local bookstore.  The caloric theory states that: If you take in more calories than your body requires it will store them as fat, if you take in less calories than your body requires it will metabolize energy stores to make up the difference.  The key is to alter your caloric intake by only small amounts and increase your metabolism. Skipping meals or starving yourself actually slows the metabolism by telling the body that food is scarce.  Exercise is essential in order to stimulate the body to burn fat and build lean tissue.

Other theories believe that you can eat as much as you want as long as the food contains less fat and no simple sugars.  The diet should also contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for fat burning such as vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin E, lecithin and essential fatty acids.

Another theory believes that hidden food allergies can lead to obesity.  Irritating food proteins cause small amounts of inflammation, as the body attempts to neutralize the irritants, and can down-regulate metabolism.  Eliminating the most common food allergens, milk, wheat, corn, eggs, chocolate, soy and yeast, can be an important part of weight maintenance in some individuals.

The reason that there are multitudes of weight loss theories is because everyone is an individual and what works for some will not work for others.  The key is to look at the maintenance of normal weight as a lifestyle change, not just as a diet that will be over in a given amount of time.

See a health professional to ensure that there are no medical conditions that are causing you to gain weight.  Then detoxify the body to make sure it is working to capacity.  See the article entitled "detoxification" for more information.  Have a positive mental outlook and deal with stress effectively.  Start moderate exercise that is maintainable in your daily routine.  Remember healthy weight loss is no more than 2-4 lbs weekly.

Water is a very important nutrient because it flushes waste products from the body and prevents dehydration.  Drink 2L of filtered water or herbal teas daily.  A large part of your food intake should be whole grains and vegetables because they are rich in nutrients, and enzymes, and help to stabilize the blood sugar.  Increase your consumption of tofu, legumes, nuts and seeds.  Vegetable protein is lower in saturated fat than animal protein.  Nuts and seeds are good protein source and contain essential fatty acids.  These fats actually increase the metabolism of stored fats.  Use unrefined, cold-pressed nut and seed oils made from flax seed, walnut, hemp seed and pumpkin seed.  Water-soluble fibre, like pectin, psyllium and inulin, are found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.   Fibre is an appetite suppressant and binds bile to prevent the reabsorption of fats in the intestine.

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight:

•  Exercising regularly 
• Staying hydrated, drink 1.5 L of pure water daily
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily  
• Avoid white flour, sugar and refined foods 
• Consume whole grains  
• Monitor blood sugar levels; don't miss meals
• Control stress with yoga, tai chi or mediation and breathing exercises
• Eat small meals frequently 
• Don't skip breakfast  
• Consume enough protein, based on body type and weight 
• Don't eat late in the day or 3 hours before sleep 
• Maintain regular sleeping patterns

The importance of Fiber

Every time we turn around something reminds us about the importance of fiber.  Advertising touts products new and improved when they are considered high fiber or have added whole grain.  So what's all the fuss about?  The standard North American diet is largely deficient in fiber because of the refining process.  It strips the fibrous coat off of grains and removes the skins of fruits and vegetables.

Thus the food becomes easier to process but deficient in fiber and nutrients.  Colon cancer, diabetes and high cholesterol are just a few of the conditions that afflict millions of people and can be helped by proper fiber intake.  There are several different types of fiber each with their own health benefits.

Bran, gums and mucilages are fibers that regulate blood sugar and lower cholesterol.  They also bind to toxins and waste products in the intestines, ensuring that these harmful agents pass through the digestive tract without being reabsorbed by the body.  By eating oatmeal, oat bran, sesame seeds and dried beans you take in substantial amounts of these fibers.  Some medicinal types of this fiber are glucomannan and psyllium seed.  Glucomannan binds to fat in the intestines, normalizes blood sugar and decreases appetite (by expanding in the stomach).  It benefits those who are obese, diabetic or hypoglycemic.  Psyllium seed is an intestinal cleanser and stool softener.  It is the major component of the commercial preparation called Metamucil.  But Metamucil contains colourings and flavourings that are not found in psyllium preparations.

Cellulose is an indigestible fiber that is found in fruit and vegetable skins.  Because it is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract it bulks the stool and acts as an intestinal cleanser. It helps to prevent and treat hemorrhoids, varicose veins, constipation and colitis.  It also binds to toxins so that they are not absorbed into the body.

Hemicellulose is also an indigestible fiber that is found in fruit and vegetables.  It regulates the water content of the stool.  It is used as a treatment for weight loss, constipation, detoxification and the prevention of colon cancer.

Lignin is a fiber that has an affinity for fats and bile acids.  It binds to these substances in the intestines and prevents their absorption or resorption into the body.  Lignin is used to lower cholesterol, prevent gallstones and treat diabetes and colon cancer.

Pectin slows the absorption of food after meals thereby decreasing the rate at which blood sugar enters the body.  This is especially beneficial for people with diabetes whose bodies cannot properly take sugar into cells.  Pectin, especially apple pectin, also binds to fats and bile acids.  Thus it is used to prevent gallstones, and lower cholesterol.  Citrus pectin has been studied for its ability to remove toxins from the body, reduce side effects from radiation therapy and limit tumour metastasis

Fiber can be added to the diet by increasing your intake of whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables (with skin!) and beans.  If it is still needed, many commercial fiber preparations, each with a unique mix of fibers in tablets, capsules or powder form, are available.  Read fiber supplements carefully because some may contain laxatives, making those preparations unsuitable for long-term use.

KONJAC GLUCOMANNAN: BLOOD SUGAR SUPPORT & WEIGHT LOSS

Konjac/Glucomannan is a dietary fibre commonly added to many foods as an emulsifier and thickener. It comes from the Konjac root, a perennial plant primarily grown in Asia. It has been shown to have one of the highest molecular weights and is one of the most viscous of any dietary fibres.

Simply put, (konjac) glucomannan absorbs water as it travels through the digestive tract, increasing the bulk of the stool and making the stool easier to pass or move through the colon. For individuals prone to constipation, this means less straining and a decreased risk of fissures or hemorrhoid formation. Many use glucomannan as a weight loss aid, in that it helps to get rid of excess water weight.

SUPER FIBRE

It also promotes regular and healthy elimination and is an effective method of getting rid of excess toxins and hormones, including cholesterol, in the body. Efficient removal of these substances may give an individual more energy, make them less sluggish and fatigued (common side effects of toxic overload) and more apt to increase their exercise and eat a healthier, more well balanced diet, further contributing to weight loss. Studies have also shown that taking a glucomannan supplement one hour prior to eating can reduce caloric intake and keep individuals satisfied longer when compared with placebo.

KONJAC ROOT GLUCOMANNAN & BLOOD SUGAR SUPPORT

(Konjac) Glucomannan, much like any fibre, is also helpful in regulating blood sugar levels and can be beneficial for individuals with diabetes. Diabetics need to be cautious when taking glucomannan, as it may interfere with insulin and other blood sugar medications. This product needs to be taken 2-3 hours away from any medication and blood sugar levels should be monitored closely in case there is a need to adjust dosages for prevention of hyper or hypoglycemic states.

Konjac root is particularly useful for reducing the glycemic index of foods. "Glycemic index" refers to how quickly a carbohydrate is metabolized by the body. When a food is described as having a lower glycemic index, this means that it will cause a lower increase in blood sugar than foods with a higher glycemic index (GI). Taken with food, konjac / glucomannan effectively slows the release of the sugars in the food down, allowing the body more time to burn the calories they contain off as energy instead of storing them as body fat. This is part of the reason why konjac is recommended as a weight loss supplement.

It also helps to reduce the fluctuations in blood sugar that can occur when you eat unhealthy carbs that can lead to cravings and subsequent poor food choices and weight gain.

Konjac is available under a variety of trade names such as PGX, GO4Trim, FiberFlow, as well as simply konjac and glucomannan.

Health Canada has put out an advisory on (konjac) Glucomannan supplements in any form, stating that individuals need to take each gram of glucomannan with at least 8 oz of water to reduce risk of choking or developing a blockage in the throat, esophagus or intestines. For these reasons it is also recommended that these products be taken 2-3 hours before bed. Glucomannan can be taken on its own in capsule or powder form or is often combined with other forms of dietary fibre.

Size: 1 Bottle (180 VCAPS)

Ingredients: Glucomannan (root), Gelatin (capsule), Magnesium stearate

Recommended Use: Take 3 capsules with a full glass of water approximately 20 minutes before mealtime.