A diet essential, this soft food... could it even cause a stomachache?

Konjac is popular among dieters. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity has listed konjac as one of the foods that can be freely consumed for weight control. What effect does konjac have on our bodies?

 

Konjac is a very low-calorie food, containing approximately 10 kcal per 100 g. Its main ingredient is a dietary fiber called glucomannan. Glucomannan dissolves in the intestines and then sticks to food, delaying the body's absorption of carbohydrates. Slower absorption also leads to a slower rise in blood sugar. Slower blood sugar increases allow sugar to be efficiently used as energy by insulin.

 

It reduces the accumulation of excess sugar as fat. Furthermore, konjac is 97.3% water, a level comparable to drinking water. Just as drinking plenty of water can make you feel full and prevent you from eating other foods, eating konjac increases satiety, helping with dieting.

However, many people report feeling bloated after eating konjac. This is because glucomannan, a dietary fiber, is difficult to digest because it doesn't break down into glucose. If konjac passes through the intestines undigested, it is fermented by intestinal microorganisms, promoting gas production and causing abdominal pain. In fact, the National Institutes of Health warns that konjac consumption can cause abdominal discomfort, including abdominal bloating, flatulence, and mild diarrhea. This is a particularly common symptom for people with irritable bowel syndrome. If you experience uncomfortable symptoms such as gas after eating konjac, you should adjust your intake or avoid it altogether.

 

It is not good to be picky about only eating konjac. According to the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 100g of 'noodle-shaped konjac' contains ▲96.5g of moisture ▲0.2g of protein ▲3g of carbohydrates ▲2.9g of dietary fiber ▲0.075g of potassium ▲0.012g of potassium ▲0.01g of sodium ▲0.01g of phosphorus. 100g of 'plate-shaped konjac', which is shaped like square tofu, contains ▲96.7g of moisture ▲0.12g of protein ▲0.01g of lipid ▲3.06g of carbohydrates ▲2.4g of dietary fiber ▲0.024g of amino acids ▲0.067g of calcium ▲0.013g of potassium ▲0.002g of sodium ▲0.003g of phosphorus. Konjac contains almost no essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fat, and protein, and trace nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

 

However, replacing every meal with konjac risks nutritional imbalances. If you eat konjac for one meal, you should eat a balanced diet for the rest to ensure you're getting enough of the nutrients you're missing.

 

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I tried to cook rice with konjac rice about two years ago.

I bought a box, but the konjac rice was already soaked.

It comes sealed for each person.

 

I don't think I can digest it.

I just remember throwing it away