4 Benefits of Shirataki noodles, a healthy alternative for those who love to eat noodles

Currently eating Shirataki noodles is arguably a trend. How could I not, these noodles are not just noodles. They look like noodles, vermicelli, or vermicelli, but the ingredients are certainly different from the others. Well, many say that Shirataki noodles are a lifesaver for weight loss and maintaining blood sugar levels. To learn more about this type of noodle, just look at the following explanation.

What are Shirataki noodles?

White Shirataki noodles tend to be translucent, and are often called konjac noodles. Shirataki noodles are made from glucomannan, a type of fiber that comes from the roots of the konjac plant. Konjac plants grow in Japan, China, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Unlike the usual noodles which contain lots of carbohydrates, Shirataki noodles contain less carbohydrates. The carbohydrates in Shirataki noodles are dominated by fiber; not just starch or starch. Hence, Shirataki noodles are very low in calories.

In addition to glucomannan fibers, these noodles are usually mixed with water and a little lime so that the noodles can be perfectly formed. The three mixtures of these ingredients are then boiled, then formed into thin elongated noodles, or some are shaped like rice.

Shirataki noodles contain a lot of water. Even 97 percent of Shirataki noodles are water, about 3 percent glucomannan, and very little lime.

In the market, there are also Shirataki noodles that have been created, called Shirataki Noodles tofu. The tofu Shirataki noodles contain a higher amount of carbohydrates than the original Shirataki.

What are the benefits of Shirataki noodles?

1. Benefits of Shirataki noodles to help you lose weight

Shirataki noodles are a weight loss miracle. The glucomannan fiber in Shirataki actually helps delay stomach emptying. You feel full longer and end up eating smaller amounts and slowing down your bowel movements.

Actually there has been no specific research on shirataki noodles, but research on the content of glucomannan fiber in Shirataki has been done quite a lot.

Research has found that taking glucomannan fiber for 4 weeks can help reduce the body's hunger hormone, ghrelin. With the decrease in hunger hormones, as a result, the body is more able to refrain from eating.

Another study in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine also found that people who ate glucomannan fiber regularly for 4-8 weeks lost 1.4-2.5 kg of weight.

2. Helps lower cholesterol

Fiber basically has the effect of lowering the amount of cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. Including, the glucomannan fibers present in Shirataki noodles.

Researchers in the journal American College of Nutrition report that glucomannan can increase the amount of cholesterol excreted in feces. That means, more cholesterol from the bloodstream can be excreted through feces by these fibers. With the amount of fiber released, the lower the cholesterol level in the blood.

Another study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that glucomannan can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels by up to 16 mg / dL and triglycerides by up to 11 mg / dL. Therefore, eating Shirataki noodles is considered a strategy to control cholesterol levels in the body.

3. Shirataki noodles prevent constipation

The benefits of Shirataki noodles this time need not be doubted, because the fiber content is indeed quite high. Glucomannan fiber contains polysaccharides which can help the intestines work better.

Glucomannan can stimulate the growth of good bacteria in the intestines. That way, there is more activity of the good bacteria in the gut. The movement of the intestine becomes smoother, even to the excretion of feces. In fact, giving glucomannan fiber is known to help treat severe constipation in children.

4. Shirataki noodles are safe for people with diabetes

Research shows that the glucomannan fiber in Shirataki noodles can help lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing insulin resistance.

Because, glucomannan fiber can delay stomach emptying so that blood sugar and insulin levels that enter the bloodstream will increase slowly, little by little. There was no sudden spike.

In fact, from a few years ago it was found in studies that people with type 2 diabetes who consumed glucomannan fiber for 3 weeks experienced a significant decrease in fructosamine. Fructosamine is a marker or indicator of blood sugar over the past 2-3 weeks.