Glucomannan promotes satiety so you feel fuller for longer

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

Traditionally used in Japanese cuisine Glucomannan can be found in noodles, tofu, and vegetarian meat. It also has roots in Chinese medicine being valued for its yin-nourishing properties and used to treat ailments like fever, stomach discomfort and dehydration.

Beyond traditional uses, glucomannan has become a popular supplement to regulate appetite and weight loss, and with studies supporting immunity, lower blood sugar, cholesterol and lipid levels and gut health, Glucomannan makes for a promising natural remedy.

How Glucomannan works

Konjac Glucomannan is most well-known for its considerable soluble fibre content, exceptional viscosity, and gel-forming capacity owing to its unique water-absorbing properties.

This fibre’s exceptional ability to absorb water means it can expand up to 50 times its weight, forming a thick gel-like substance in the digestive tract.  This gel slows digestion, promotes satiety so you feel fuller for longer to support weight management.

Glucomannan Benefits

Glucomannan is supported by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for use as a weight loss supplement and on-going research on Glucomannan’s bioactive properties is showing potential in developing treatments for chronic diseases and obesity-related conditions. (see below image)

Additional Glucomannan Health Benefits

Beyond weight management, glucomannan contributes to improved metabolic health. It helps lower blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure, making it beneficial for individuals with diabetes or metabolic disorders. It’s also a prebiotic, with additional anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.

Glucomannan & Gut Health

As a fermenting fibre, Glucomannan supports digestive health, helping control bowel movements, preventing constipation and maintaining beneficial gut flora. A prebiotic fibre Glucomannan passes through the upper digestive tract, reaching the colon intact, where it acts as a prebiotic for gut microbiota (food for our beneficial gut bacteria).

Appetite Suppressant

Studies highlight glucomannan’s appetite suppression powers with its ability to promote a feeling of fullness, reduce calorie intake, and aid weight loss. When consumed at doses of 2-4 grams per day, Glucomannan has been shown to be well-tolerated and effective in overweight and obese individuals

By expanding in the stomach, glucomannan physically takes up space, which triggers receptors that tell the brain you’re full. This reduces the desire to consume more food during meals, and may even help prevent snacking between meals.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that glucomannan supplements led to significant weight loss in overweight individuals. Participants took 1 gram of glucomannan three times daily before meals, and lost an average of 5.5 pounds over an eight-week period without making any drastic changes to their diet or exercise routine.

The researchers concluded that glucomannan supplementation led to significant body weight reductions, with its ability to create feelings of fullness and reduce overall calorie intake.

Alongside bodyweight Glucomannan has also been studies for its effects on metabolic health and blood pressure. A study followed 200 obese adults over a 16-week period. Participants were divided into two groups: one group took 1 gram of glucomannan three times daily before meals, and the other group received a placebo.

Results: The glucomannan group experienced an average weight loss of 8-10 pounds (3.6-4.5 kg) by the end of the study, while the placebo group showed minimal weight change. In addition to weight loss, the glucomannan group also showed improvements in blood lipid profiles and blood sugar regulation.

So now we know how Glucomannan can support weight loss with portion and overall calorie control. It can also help control hunger, keeping us fuller for longer and help manage snacking. Snacking can be a common issue when it comes to weight management – here we explain some of the affects of snacking on weight management.

Affects of Snacking

We know how much we eat matters and creating an energy deficit is important when it comes to weight loss. But weight loss is also hormone controlled and what we eat matters too. A calorie is more than just a calorie. It sends signals around the body and that some foods trigger a larger insulin response than others, with carbohydrates being the biggest trigger. And this is important because when insulin levels are high the body is in fat storage mode – not fat burning mode.

What’s more, according to studies it also matters when we eat.

The image below showing how much insulin levels spike each time we eat and just how important a period of over-night fasting can be when it comes to fat loss.

The Science on Late Eating

Here’s what the science tells us:

Late eating increases waketime hunger and decreases 24-h serum leptin levels – Hunger levels increase and the levels of the hormone that tells us when we are full decrease.

Late eating decreases waketime energy expenditure and core body temperature – The body uses fewer calories during the daytime

Late eating alters adipose tissue gene expression favouring increased fat storage – Your body favours fat storage

The image below shows the consequences of late evening snacking on the body.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an appetite suppressant as some support to regain control over eating patterns then Glucomannan supplements represents a powerful ally. The science shows glucomannan as a promising, natural, and effective supplement for weight loss, through appetite suppression and delayed gastric emptying. You can find Glucomannan in Pretty Pea Meno Weight capsules and as a powder in Pretty Pea Appetite.