Last month, I was introduced to a super-special lose-weight-as-you-eat dish. Called konjac, it’s a Japanese root vegetable that’s incredibly low in calories: 3 calories per 100 grams (considering 100 grams of cucumber have 10 calories, this is really, really low).
Konjac is also completely gluten-free. And when mixed with a little water, it transforms into a gel-like substance that traps fats, sugars and other toxins. Plus, it’s the highest natural source of natural dietary fiber, which makes it quite filling.
It’s for all these reasons that konjac has long been known as a ‘broom for the stomach’ in its native Japan.
What does this all add up to? The best 1-2-3 diet punch one could ask for!
How to have konjac for weight loss
Konjac is available in several different forms (all easily available at department stores Stateside), including a tofu-like block, flour, jelly and supplements. However, the most popular (and easiest) form of konjac is shirataki or konnyaku noodles – clear, thin noodles that have a rubbery texture.
Unlike regular dried noodles, they come packaged in a watery liquid. All you need to do is drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water. Then blanch them in a pot of boiling water for a couple of minutes; drain well and you’re all set!
But what I like best is that konjac is pretty tasteless, so you can mix in an assortment of flavorings and really make the dish your own without worrying about the calories.
I prefer to have the konnyaku noodles in a soup, where they acquire the broth’s own flavour and mix in seamlessly. Just make sure to cook them in the soup’s stock for some time (I add them in right at the beginning), so that the flavours mingle perfectly.
Have you ever tried konjac? In what form? And what’s your lose-the-excess-pounds food?
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
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