Glucomannan Reviews - Is It Nature's "Skinny Sponge"?

The hardest part about dieting is overcoming your appetite and cravings. Cravings are the diet killer and if you cave in, you can lose a lot of the progress you have made. If you want to gain a huge advantage in your quest to lose weight then there is no other supplement that will help you suppress your appetite more than glucomannan.

Glucomannan has become really popular recently due to the media exposure it is getting from Dr.Oz. Glucomannan as a dietary supplement has been used since the 1980’s but I guess it needed a little push from Dr.Oz to really take off. On a recent show, Dr.Oz referred to glucomannan as “the best appetite suppressant” and “nature’s skinny sponge”. Does glucomannan really deserve all of the praise it is getting in the media? Let’s take a look and see what glucomannan is really about.

What is Glucomannan?

Glucomannan is a water-soluble dietary fiber that is extracted from the root of the konjac plant. Soluble fibers dissolve in water and form a gel. Other sources of soluble fibers include oatmeal, apples, oranges, oat bran, strawberries, nuts, flaxseeds, psyllium husk and beans.

Glucomannan is available as a powder that can be added to your favorite drinks or foods. They will add thickness to any weight loss shake. I prefer to take glucomannan in capsules. Capsules are extremely convenient, cheap and have no taste.

How Does Glucomannan Work?

Glucomannan is a natural water soluble dietary fiber. That means that when you swallow a capsule of glucomannan the fiber will absorb water in your stomach and expand, creating a gel. Soluble fibers move through your digestive system a little slower than other foods and sits in your stomach. As it sits in your stomach it does a couple of things.

First it expands in your stomach and it tricks your mind into thinking that you are full. The theory is if you are full, you will consume less carbs, fats and calories, thus reducing your caloric intake.

Second, glucomannan reduces the absorption of carbs and cholesterol in the digestive track supporting your body’s weight loss. This supplement makes you feel full without leaving you gassy, bloated, or making an emergency bathroom break.

Where’s the Proof?

If proof is what you’re looking for then you’ve come to the right place. There are tons of clinical studies still being performed regarding the weight loss and health claims surrounding glucomannan. There are two studies that I would like to talk about.

The first was a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition back in 2007. Participants taking a combination of glucomannan and psyllium husk, another soluble fiber, lost approximately 10 pounds in 16 weeks compared to 1.7 pounds lost in the placebo group. [1]

The second study was an eight-week double-blind trial in 20 obese subjects. Results showed a significant mean weight loss of 5.5 lbs using glucomannan over an eight-week period. [2] The amazing thing is that participants made no changes to their eating or exercise patterns. Imagine how much weight would have been lost if they tweaked their diets and added a little cardio!?

Glucomannan – Final Thoughts

If you are struggling with cravings or controlling your appetite then glucomannan will help you maintain control. I have used glucomannan frequently over the past five years. Whenever I cut down or have cravings, and my sugar cravings are pretty intense, I always reach for glucomannan. As a competitive bodybuilder, my diet gets pretty strict as competitions get closer. Actually it gets really strict. Carbs and calories are cut which sends my hunger and cravings through the roof. (I also get cranky). Glucomannan has always helped control those cravings and kept me on track. I am always amazed at how fast glucomannan works.

This is one man’s research based opinion. What really matters is how well glucomannan works for all of you. Please use our form below to share what your experiences have been with glucomannan. Please include the product(s) you have used, side effects, benefits, dosage, and let us all know if you think glucomannan is a good value or not.