As always - Chris has the greatest natural finds !!!! : ) Here is about her favorite softener :
Konjac Glucomannan is the most viscosity soluble fiber in nature - it forms an extremely viscous solution.
Konjac Glucomannan has the highest molecular weight of any dietary fiber known to science - molecular weight is between 200,000-2,000,000 Daltons.
Konjac Glucomannan has the highest water holding capacity of any soluble fiber - up to 100 times its own water weight.
Konjac Glucomannan can form either a reversible or a thermo-non-reversible gel.
Kojac glucomannan (KGM) molecules structure
What are the health benefits of soluble fiber?
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved food manufacturer use of the following information on product labels:
Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include fruits, vegetables, and grain products, which also contain fiber (particularly soluble fiber), may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 3g of soluble fiber from whole oats per day may reduce the risk of heart disease.
A low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains containing fiber, particularly soluble fiber, may lower blood cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart diseases, and possibly prevent some types of cancer.
Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include a daily intake of soluble fiber from whole oats or psyllium seed may reduce the risk of heart disease.
The American Dietetic Association recommends that people consume 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day, of which 5 to 10 grams should be soluble fiber. However, Americans typically average only about 12 to 17 grams of total fiber and only 3 to 4 grams of soluble fiber a day - about half the recommended amount.
How does soluble fiber work?
Soluble fiber is the only known food component that will lower blood cholesterol when you add more to your diet. Foods high in soluble fiber help prevent sugar from rising too high after meals by keeping food in the stomach longer. Sugar is absorbed more slowly, preventing free fatty acids and triglycerides from rising too high after meals. Free fatty acids bind to insulin receptors and prevent insulin from doing its job of driving sugar from the bloodstream into cells. In addition, soluble fiber does the following:
It binds to fat in the intestines, preventing some fat absorption.
It dissolves fluids in the large intestine and forms a gel that binds with bile acids in the intestines. As a result, the liver converts more cholesterol to bile acids, and blood cholesterol levels are reduced.
It slows digestion and the absorption of nutrients, resulting in a slow and steady release of glucose from accompanying carbohydrates.
It soaks up excess bile acids found in the intestinal tract - the same acids that are converted into blood cholesterol.
It delays stomach emptying, triggering satiety (a feeling of fullness) that can be helpful in people with type 2 diabetes trying to achieve weight loss goals.