[Mssarge]

Hey guys, found on another site folks are using a product called Glucomanan, also called Konjac, as a thickener for shakes and in cooking. Apparently, it acts as an appetite suppressor and adds a good "mouth feel" to foods and drinks. I know it may be contrary to SS, of all natural foods, but this is supposed to be natural, just all fiber. Also with just the powder and water, you can make noodles which would open up a lot of what I'm missing in my woe.

I've ordered the powder but understand there are capsules available which you take before meals to help suppress the appetite...right now, I'm using psyllium. Anyway, is anyone using this and if so, how are you using it?

Mary in SoCal

[crazywoman]

Mary, I've just started using it. I can't tell you any results yet, as I haven't noticed much. I think it does help some with the texture of baked goods that rely on flaxmeal, almond flour, etc. And it does help at least some with the feeling of fullness. Tho I haven't seen as drastic feeing of satiety especially for a long time as some, but I think it has helped some. I am kinda excited about it tho.
Right now I have the capsules, but am not taking them with water. I have been opening them & using them in my foods. I have ordered the powder, but have not received it. I do not plan on "taking" the capsules.

I'm not sure about making my own noodles with it. Haven't seem too many "over there" yet who have had much luck with that. If you have never eaten any of the Shirataki or Miracle noodles, I want to tell you even if you do manage to make them, do not expect them to taste or feel (mouth feel) like noodles. They do/will not. I do buy Shirataki noodles at an international foods store here locally, and do use them occasionally. I like using them, but the aren't like real noodles. Spaghetti squash is another substitute I often use. Both are good in their own rights, just different. (Nothing wrong with different!) I've never used zucchini (because I never buy it), but a lot of people use that.

I have used it in hot flax type cereals, added to flourless mini cakes (or mini cakes that are made with flax and/or oat fiber, etc) made "puddings" with it, added it to shakes or smoothie type drinks. I made cranberry jam & added a little to it last night. I didn't add a lot,,,,, didn't rely on it for the "gel", but did add a little. I'm still experimenting. Wanted to experiment a little more before I put any recipes on here. And my problem is I am now one of "those" cooks who makes a lot of things with measuring. (Never would I have thought 40 some odd years ago that I would say that!!!) So it is hard for me to post a recipe!
I'll do more experimenting when I get the pwd in. I hope to buy the pwd in the future, and not buy the caps.
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Billie
4'8" Started LC WOL Aug 2003

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My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.

[Tia_Lisa_]

Hey Mary & Billie!

So what is this stuff? Is it something like the xantham and/or guar gums... or more like oat fiber or psyllium? I need to reorder the ThickenThin Not Starch... but if this stuff will replace it, I might try it instead.... Hmmm... I feel a mad scientist moment coming on....

PEACE AND LOVE,
Lisa
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ROCK ON

[crazywoman]

Lisa, the Glucomannan is a fiber, that comes from a root. Google Konjac Glucomannan.
It is NOT cheap. Even more expensive than the ThickenThin (which BTW is no longer availabe. You can however get a product which is VERY similar (same ingredients) to ThickenThin at Netrition by Dixie Dinner = Thick It Up. I still use the ThickenThin (still have some) and will replace with the Thick It Up. I won't replace that with the Glucomannan. They have similar uses, but are different.

If I realize tomorrow when I'm not half asleep that I have more info for you, I'll post again.

Mary may reply too.
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Billie
4'8" Started LC WOL Aug 2003

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My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.

[crazywoman]

Here are some links:

http://glucomannankonjac.com/

http://www.glucomannan.com/gum.htm

http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/diet-pill-reviews/glucomannan-benefits.html

I have checked and eBay is not the place to buy the powder. (Maybe the caps if you are interested in them. The only reason I bought the caps were that I found them locally, and could try the Gluc out before ordering the bag.)

So far the best buy I found was from the konjac site, tho 1 other company does sell it per pound cheaper, but they do NOT give you a shipping price. So who knows what it would end up costing????
Amazon is supposed to be getting the Konjac, but it is not yet available, & no idea as to what it will cost. Just an FYI.
_________________
Billie
4'8" Started LC WOL Aug 2003

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My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.

[Mssarge]

Thanks Billie, for jumping in on this and Lisa for asking...apparently this is a fiber that is used primarily for cooking, thickening soups and gravies and stabilizing baked goods. I think it's supposed to eliminate or lessen the crumbleness (is there such a word) of non-flour baked goods. Sounds good...much has been written about the satiety of the product and the caps are used to reduce appetite. Many are taking the powder from the caps to add to the cooked stuff. Also, many folks are adding it to cold things to thicken drinks to make them more substantial. Supposed to be tasteless

I bought the powder from Amazon and it should be in in the next couple of days. It isn't cheap, but you use so little of it, it's supposed to be a good buy. In baked goods, they are using it in addition to xantham and quar gums but it adds a different texture. I understand if you use too much of the gums the product gets a "slimy" feel. I use both but in a mix from Marie Calender, and use it sparingly. Gluc clumps immediately when added to liquids so I guess it takes some getting used to.

There is a site on You Tube, I think, that shows making noodles from this and it's supposed to be very easy. And no, Billie, I don't expect anything to taste like noodles, but noodles. I don't like the Shirataki noodles, or even spaghetti squash as a sub. I use the squash for a mock hash brown casserole, and, sometimes with an Alfredo-type sauce...

I'm thinking that it might open some new ideas to stretch the diet. Looking for any input, and the idea of using it as a gel for syrup subs is a great one. I just ordered a close-out crepe maker from the Q and am looking forward to using George's recipe for crepes.

Tia Maria in SoCal

[crazywoman]

I ordered the pwd from the Konjac site. Amazon doesn't have that brand yet, and this was cheaper than buying the other brand at Amazon. (Don't know what they will sell the Konjac brand for when they do get it in. It is listed, but out of stock, and no price.)

I got mine in today!!! WooHoo!

I had been opening the caps & using in foods before. I found they did not come close to making noodles. They just would not set up like the guy on YouTube's did. I may give this pwd a try, but probably not for a while yet. If/when I do, I'll get back with the results. And maybe you can do the same. I have been liking it for making "puddings". It will be simpler now with the pwd. And the pwd is cheaper than the caps. And it seems that all caps are not the same. Except for making noodles, mine seemed to act pretty much like the bulk pwd. One person had a brand that she could not keep suspended in liquid. (Never really understood that.) The amount varies in different brands of caps also. Mine seemed to be 1 cap equal to 1/4tsp.
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Billie
4'8" Started LC WOL Aug 2003

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My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.

[Mssarge]

Got mine in the mail today, so will be giving it a try and will let you know how it works...I thought the price was similar to that on the Knojac site.

Mary in SoCal

[crazywoman]

If you bought the one I saw on Amazon, it is only 1#, where as the Konjac is 17.5oz, and the total price at Konjac was $24. The one on Amazon started out at over that plus shipping. Just FYI for next time. Amazon is supposed to start carrying the Konjac, but don't know when or how much it will be.
But the guy on the YouTube video said he likes the one on Amazon (he called it by the name, not from Amazon) best, at least for some things. So who knows, you may have gotten the best buy!

anyway.............

I may not get much trials with it this coming week. Lots going on this comming week. We'll see.

I'll start a new thread for Glucomannan in the Miscellaneous recipe section.
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Billie
4'8" Started LC WOL Aug 2003

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My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.

[Mssarge]

hmmm, well what's 1.5 ounces between the fiber??? Anyway, I tried it in chicken soup; just wanted to make it a little thicker. Only used about a teaspoon in about three cups of broth and it was fine...added the egg to make egg drop soup and was satisfied with the result. I guess the mix should be about one teaspoon to a cup of liquid, which would make it gel up quite a bit, I would think. Didn't really notice any change in taste so that's a plus. I think tonight I'll use it in a shake to see how it works cold...it does seem to gel fast.

For those who have experience with gluc, Billie has added a link in the miscellaneous recipes forum and am looking forward to your experiences.

Mary in SoCal

[Eliana7]

Hi
I use glucomannon, I read Jonny Bowden's blog a lot and he recommended it, so I tried it. The trick is to open the capsules rather that just swallowing the capsule whol with water.

I open them and add them to yogurts, salad dressings and sauces as thickeners.

another thing to keep in mind is that you should mix it in room temperature liquid and then add it to your food. Other wise it will become a gooey glob.

I find that in addition to adding it in foods, it also curbs my appetite.

Make sure you drink lots and lots of water. I like because there are days when my fiber intake is too low and this helps.

In addition, it also helps to stabalize blood sugars.

Hope this helps.

[crazywoman]

Eliana, I started out using the caps, and opening them up & using the contents too. (I've never taken them as a capsule. Not what I bought them for. ) Anyway, I only bought the caps because I was anxious to try it out, and found them locally. Didn't want to wait for an order, and they were a little cheaper for a try out. But ordering the powder is MUCH cheaper in the long run. Netrition.com just started carrying the powder, and as of right now they are the cheapest place to find it. It is a 500 gram bag ( abt 17.5 oz).
http://www.netrition.com/konjac_glucomannan_powder.html
Ounce for ounce it is a LOT cheaper than the capsules. And different brands of capsules vary in the amount in a cap. Unless in a bind, I probably will not buy the caps again.
Someone on another site got some brand of caps that she had terrible luck with, so it doesn't seem like it all is the same. Just info, not really knocking caps. I had bought the Natures Way brand, and they seemed to work pretty much like my pwd does. 1 cap is = to 1/4 tsp. But again some are more some less (mostly less if different I think). But like I said, much more expensive that way.
Just an FYI!!!
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Billie
4'8" Started LC WOL Aug 2003

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My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.

[Eliana7]

Thanks for the info...I get my caps from Swanson's vitamins online. Their prices and products are awesome...but since I don't actually take the caps it make better sense to just buy it in powder form.

I started using it becasue Jonny Bowden recommended using them for weight loss. But I didn't start cooking with them until I read the Women's Health Diet. In it they use a low carb approach to weight loss and they have quite a few recipes where they us glucomannon to thicken the dish and up the fiber count.

It makes getting your daily fiber so effortless--especially on busy days when eating salad and veggies is not always convenient at lunch meetings.

Thanks for the link--I will ltry it out.