Dr. Steven R. Gundry
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 The noodles are derived from the root of a kind of yam, which is finely ground into the most water-soluble fiber known, glucomannan. Oat bran also contains some water-soluble fiber, giving it a limited ability to reduce cholesterol. In contrast, glucomannan can absorb up to 100 times its weight in water! When made into noodles, the fiber is translucent and tasteless, but combine it with a small amount of tofu, and it has the texture and appearance of overcooked spaghetti. |
Marshall Editions
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 However, if you develop allergic symptoms after taking psyllium seeds discontinue their use. glucomannan is a dietary fiber derived from the tubers of Amorphophallus konjac. Take 3-5 g in capsule form a day in divided doses before meals. glucomannan may cause excess gas, stomach distension, or mild diarrhea. Eat more pineapple and papaya for their potent digestive enzymes that will help reduce inflammation. These symptoms usually abate within a couple of days of treatment, or with a reduction in the dosage. |
Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey
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 The value of glucomannan and guar in the treatment of excessive weight gain in pregnancy and GDM was studied. Thirty-four patients were included in the study, of whom 13 received glucomannan (3 g/day) and 21 guar (10 g/day). An OGTT was performed in all patients before and after therapy. A reduction of basal and post-OGTT glycemia values was observed in all subjects [47].
In a study by Reece et al., non-insulin-requiring GDM patients were placed in three different fiber dose groups (moderate-fiber dose, 40 to 60 g; high-fiber dose, 70 to 80 g; and a normal fiber dose, 20 g or less of fiber). |
David Hoffman, FNIMH, AHG
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 Glucomannans
A glucomannan is a hydrocolloidal polysaccharide composed of d-glucose and d-mannose residues bonded together in (3-1,4 linkages. Approximately 60% of the polysaccharide is d-mannose and approximately 40% is d-glucose.
Dietary glucomannan is a soluble fiber derived from konjac flour. Konjac flour itself comes from the tubers of various Amorphoph alius species, relatives of the philoden-dron houseplant. When ingested, glucomannan swells and causes an increase in stool bulk, making it useful as a laxative. It may also help control serum glucose and lipid levels. |
Marshall Editions
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| Take 3-5 g in capsule form a day in divided doses before meals. glucomannan may cause excess gas, stomach distension, or mild diarrhea. Eat more pineapple and papaya for their potent digestive enzymes that will help reduce inflammation. These symptoms usually abate within a couple of days of treatment, or with a reduction in the dosage. Chamomile is particularly valuable in treating diverticulitis because its anti-inflammatory action soothes the entire digestive system. To make a tea, let 2 tsp of dried chamomile steep in a cup of boiling water for five to 10 minutes. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 The main ingredient in konjac root is a water-soluble dietary fiber called glucomannan, which is made from mannose and glucose sugars. However you get it—from food or supplements—a diet with at least 35 of mixed fiber a day is likely to produce a number of health benefits and will most likely help you in the battle of the bulge.
The Yeast Killers for Candida albicans
THERE'S A FUNGUS among us. And is Candida albicans. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 You should probably be drinking 6 ounces of water for every tablet you consume, because the glucomannan ingredient is going to expand in your stomach, and if you don't drink adequate supplies of water, it could become a medical problem. It could actually clump up in your stomach or small intestine, and it could even block your small intestine. So you must take adequate water with this product. Drinking water is a great idea for your health, anyway, but it is especially important when you are taking a product containing glucomannan or other fibers that expand in your digestive tract. |
Michael T. Murray
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 By combining glucomannan with other soluble fibers, the viscosity of PGX?is amplified further and has a viscosity three to five times that of any glucomannan alone (see Figure 9.1). The viscosity of soluble fiber is directly related to its physiological effects and ultimately its overall health benefits in humans.
Clinical studies conducted by Dr. Vuksan and his colleagues have repeatedly shown that after-meal blood sugar levels decrease as soluble
Figure 9.1. Viscosity of Soluble Fibers
Viscosity of Soluble Fibers fiber viscosity increases.2 |
Dr. Steven R. Gundry
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| In contrast, glucomannan can absorb up to 100 times its weight in water! When made into noodles, the fiber is translucent and tasteless, but combine it with a small amount of tofu, and it has the texture and appearance of overcooked spaghetti. You can find both the spaghetti and fettuccine styles packed in water in the refrigerated section of Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and some grocery stores. Make sure you get tofu shirataki, rather than the clear shirataki noodles or you will be disappointed in the texture. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Always be sure to drink a large glass of water when taking glucomannan in capsule or pill form, as capsules can lodge in the throat and expand there, causing breathing problems. glucomannan is tasteless and odorless, and can be added to foods to help normalize blood sugar.
• Guar gum. Extracted from the seeds of the guar plant, guar gum is good for the treatment of diabetes and for curbing the appetite. It also has the ability to reduce the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins in the blood, and binds with toxic substances and carries them out of the body. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 These might include a bowl of oatmeal with extra oat bran, a fresh apple (which contains plenty of fiber), whole grains that are well-chewed, or fiber supplements such as glucomannan. You might also add cinnamon to your oatmeal or breakfast cereal, since cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar and effectively lowers the glycemic index of anything you eat during the same meal.
However, it should be noted that pomegranate sugars are somewhat unique in that they do not spike blood sugar levels as easily as other fruit sugars. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Glucomannan. Derived from the tuber of the amor-phophallis plant, it picks up and removes fat from the colon wall. This substance is good for diabetes and obesity because it helps to get rid of fat. It has been recognized for normalizing blood sugar and is good for people with hypoglycemia. glucomannan expands to sixty times its own weight, thereby helping to curb the appetite. Taking 2 to 3 capsules with a large glass of water thirty minutes before meals is helpful for reducing allergic reactions and some symptoms associated with high and low blood sugar disorders. |
| While on the baby-food diet, take extra fiber such as glucomannan.
Q glucomannan should be taken one-half to one hour before meals with a large glass of water.
Note: Always take supplemental fiber separately from other supplements and medications.
Q Do stretching exercises and take proteolytic enzymes to improve digestion.
Q Use cleansing enemas made with 2 quarts of lukewarm water. This helps to rid the colon of undigested foods and relieve pain. Use wheatgrass juice as a retention enema. For severe gas and bloating, use an B. bifidus enema. (See enemas in Part Three. |
Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey
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| Thirty-four patients were included in the study, of whom 13 received glucomannan (3 g/day) and 21 guar (10 g/day). An OGTT was performed in all patients before and after therapy. A reduction of basal and post-OGTT glycemia values was observed in all subjects [47].
In a study by Reece et al., non-insulin-requiring GDM patients were placed in three different fiber dose groups (moderate-fiber dose, 40 to 60 g; high-fiber dose, 70 to 80 g; and a normal fiber dose, 20 g or less of fiber). |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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| Drinking water is a great idea for your health, anyway, but it is especially important when you are taking a product containing glucomannan or other fibers that expand in your digestive tract.
Where can you find Trim Spa? It's available at almost any drug store or convenience store. The parent website for this is TrimSpa.com. You can also find Trim Spa sold at virtually every vitamin supplement manufacturer on the internet, so it's something that's very easy to find. |
Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D.
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 High-fiber supplements, such as psyllium (page 732),22'23 guar gum (found in beans),24 pectin (from fruit),25 oat bran,26 and glucomannan (page 526)27, 28 have improved glucose tolerance in some studies. Positive results have also been reporred with the consumption of 1—3 ounces of powdered fenugreek seeds (page 676) per day.29'30 A review of the research revealed that the extent to which moderate amounts of fiber help people with diabetes in the long term is still unknown, and the lack of many long-term studies has led some researchers to question the importance of fiber in improving diabetes. |
| In constipated people, glucomannan and other bulk-forming laxatives generally help produce a bowel movement within 12 to 24 hours.
Chlorophyll (page 492), the substance responsible for the green color in plants, may be useful for a number of gastrointestinal problems. In a preliminary trial, chlorophyll supplementation eased chronic constipation in elderly people.15
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.
Herbs that may be helpful
The laxatives most frequently used world-wide come from plants. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| The best fiber sources for promoting weight loss are those that are rich in water-soluble fibers, such as glucomannan (from konjac root), psyllium, guar gum, defatted fenugreek seed powder or fiber, seaweed fibers (alginate and carrageenan), and pectin.
When taken with water before meals, these fiber sources bind to the water in the stomach and small intestine to form a gelatinous, viscous mass that not only slows down the absorption of glucose but also induces a sense of satiety (fullness) and reduces the absorption of calories. |
Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D.
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| Preliminary reports in humans, as well and animal research, suggest that some people may be sensitive to inhaled glucomannan powder.37
Since intestinal bacteria ferment water-soluble fibers, a great deal of intestinal gas may be produced in individuals not accustomed to a high fiber diet, leading to flatulence and abdominal discomfort.
GLUCOSAMINE
What is it?
Glucosamine is an important building block needed by the body to manufacture specialized molecules called glycosaminoglycans, found in cartilage. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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| This acts in combination with the glucomannan and the sodium carboxymethylcellulose to provide a complex fiber that makes you feel full while interfering with the absorption of refined carbohydrates.
Next, we have two ingredients that are present in only small amounts -- these are chromium and vanadium, and these I think are another excellent choice for the Trim Spa recipe. Chromium, in particular, has been shown to greatly enhance insulin sensitivity (which is a good thing). |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 Fiber tablets or capsules would include psyllium husk, glucomannan, oat bran fiber, apple pectin fiber, or other natural fibers. You can find fiber supplements at any health food store. Be careful to watch the dosage of the fiber and drink plenty of water as you take these pills because without adequate water, they can gum up in your digestive tract and in extreme cases, they can block your digestive tract. So, you want to drink plenty of water with them.
By consuming both the fiber and the water before you start eating, you've already significantly turned off your appetite. |
Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D.
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| For controlling blood sugar, 500-700 mg of glucomannan per 100 calories in the diet has been used successfully in controlled research.
Vitamin E (page 609)
People with low blood levels of vitamin E are more likely to develop type l148 and type 2 diabetes.149 Vitamin E supplementation has improved glucose tolerance in people with type 2 diabetes in most,150'151'152 but not all,153 double-blind trials. Vitamin E has also improved glucose tolerance in elderly people without diabetes.154' 155 Three months or more of supplementation may be required for benefits to become apparent. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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| Here's another interesting fact about glucomannan: because it is a highly viscous fiber, it mixes with the other foods you've eaten and effectively lowers their glycemic index. Hopefully, you already know what the glycemic index is, but in case you don't, here's a summary:
The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly foods impact your blood sugar levels. So a food with a high glycemic index, such as white bread or sugar, would raise your blood sugar very quickly. Foods with a low glycemic index -- things like oat bran or quinoa -- have a weaker effect on your blood sugar. |
| That especially includes soft drinks, which are sweetened with a highly refined added sugar known as high-fructose corn syrup. So, glucomannan is a useful ingredient, and it's the number one ingredient in Trim Spa.
The next ingredient is cocoa extract, and cocoa extract is a smart ingredient in the Trim Spa recipe (the people who formulated this certainly know what they're doing). Cocoa extract makes you feel good by boosting serotonin levels in your brain. |
| I think the glucomannan is going to be a far better appetite suppressant than the hoodia gordonii found in this formula.
So, let's move on to the next ingredient, and that is sodium carboxymethylcellulose. This is also present at 100 mg, and it's another form of fiber that takes up space in your stomach, makes you feel full, and helps lower the effective glycemic index of other foods you consume.
The next ingredient we have is glucosamine HCL. This glucosamine works to lower the effective glycemic index of whatever carbohydrates you may have eaten. |
Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon
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 Glucomannan
Also known as konjac, glucomannon is similar in its actions to guar gum, a dietary fiber that is used as a thickening agent in lots of processed foods and pharmaceuticals. glucomannan is employed as a gentle laxative and has been used in weight loss products to produce a "full feeling." It has also been found to help lower cholesterol levels.
Glucomannan and guar gum can have a m^jor impact on blood sugar. They may lower glucose levels and change insulin requirements. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Gums and other mucilages, including psyllium seed husk and konjac root glucomannan, are perhaps the most potent cholesterol-lowering agents of the gel-forming fibers. In addition, mucilage fibers have been shown to reduce fasting and after-meal glucose and insulin levels in both healthy and diabetic subjects; and mucilage has decreased body weight and hunger ratings when taken with meals by obese subjects.
PECTINS
Pectins are found in all plant cell walls as well as in the outer skin and rind of fruits and vegetables. |
David Hoffman, FNIMH, AHG
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| Dietary glucomannan is a soluble fiber derived from konjac flour. Konjac flour itself comes from the tubers of various Amorphoph alius species, relatives of the philoden-dron houseplant. When ingested, glucomannan swells and causes an increase in stool bulk, making it useful as a laxative. It may also help control serum glucose and lipid levels.
Pectins
Pectins are linear polysaccharides containing about 300 to 1,000 monosaccharides, principally d-galacturonic acid. The d-galacturonic acid residues are linked together by a-1,4 glycosidic linkages. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
See book keywords and concepts |
| Glucomannan should be taken one-half to one hour before meals with a large glass of water.
Note: Always take supplemental fiber separately from other supplements and medications.
Q Do stretching exercises and take proteolytic enzymes to improve digestion.
Q Use cleansing enemas made with 2 quarts of lukewarm water. This helps to rid the colon of undigested foods and relieve pain. Use wheatgrass juice as a retention enema. For severe gas and bloating, use an B. bifidus enema. (See enemas in Part Three. |
| Glucomannan is tasteless and odorless, and can be added to foods to help normalize blood sugar.
• Guar gum. Extracted from the seeds of the guar plant, guar gum is good for the treatment of diabetes and for curbing the appetite. It also has the ability to reduce the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins in the blood, and binds with toxic substances and carries them out of the body. |
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