Many people have been discovering Miracle Noodles recently. Why? Because they are both calorie free and healthy!
Miracle Noodles are also known as Shirataki noodles, which the Japanese have been enjoying for centuries. These are not some “new” super-food noodles, they have been around for ages and they are just now gaining in popularity here in the U.S. The ingredients of the Miracle Noodles are glucomannan (also known as yam flour), which is soluble fiber from the root of a Japanese plant, water and a calcium additive. There are no other ingredients!! Although these noodles are made from yam flour, they are not considered a starch because the starch that was naturally found in the plant root has since been removed. As for the appearance, they are a translucent white color and look a lot like rice noodles.
The healthy benefits of Miracle Noodles:
* made of naturally water soluble fiber with no fat, sugar, or starch.
* contain zero net carbohydrates and zero calories, no gluten -made of a healthy natural fiber called Glucomannan.
* wheat & gluten free and kosher.
* easily absorbs the flavors of any soup, dish, or sauce.
* are instant and come in a variety of styles
* have shown beneficial effects backed by medical studies for Type II Diabetes, Constipation, Obesity, and Cholesterol!
Before I state whether or not people should incorporate Miracle Noodles into their diet, I feel it necessary to explain the basic components of the noodles. The absolute main ingredient is glucomannan, which is also a (great) source of soluble fiber.
Soluble Fiber & Glucomannan:
Soluble fiber is a type of fiber that, when consumed, passes through the body and is excreted, rather than being absorbed into the bloodstream. This type of fiber is “soluble,” or able to mix with water. In this case, it will form a gel-like consistency when combined with water in the digestive tract. This type of fiber actually slows digestion down. Soluble fiber has been shown to have a variety of healthy benefits, including lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, increasing satiety after meals, and helping stabilize blood glucose levels after meals. Studies have shown that consuming 10 to 25 grams soluble fiber a day can lower cholesterol by 18%. Soluble fiber also takes the edge off your cravings for snacks by effectively controlling your blood sugar. It gives an indirect boost to your fat metabolism by attaching to fat and reducing the ratio which is stored as fat deposits. Also, for those who suffer from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), soluble fiber is the single greatest dietary aid for preventing IBS symptoms as well as relieving them once they occur.
Regular food has a very small percentage soluble fiber. In order to meet your daily requirement of soluble fiber, you would normally need to increase the intake of calories in the form of carbohydrates such as sugar and starch. This is the root cause of weight gain. On the other hand, Glucomannan (what Miracle Noodles are made from) is a very pure form of soluble fiber with zero calories. It enables you to increase your intake of soluble fiber without adding extra calories to your diet! Glucomannan is made from konjac, a plant whose roots contain protein, ash, glucomannan, and moisture. The fresh konjac root contains an average of 13% dry matter, 64% of the dry matter is glucomannan and 30% is starch. By removing the starch to create a concentrate, glucomannan is produced. This means that there is no starch in Glucomannan (Miracle Noodles) because it has been removed. Glucomannan is nature’s most viscous soluble fiber, with the highest water holding capacity, and largest molecular weight among any dietary fiber.
So now that you know what the noodles are made from, I can go further and help you to decide whether or not to eat these.
A few things to keep in mind when it comes to Miracle Noodles:
Incorporate the noodles into your diet slowly. Don’t have them for every meal or eat them in excess simply because they are calorie free. You will find that your body processes them differently than wheat-based pasta and you could experience some gas and bloating from the soluble fiber in the noodles. This will diminish as your body adjusts to the new food though.
The serving size is 3oz., it is suggested to stay to that amount (especially in the beginning of incorporation into your diet) because your body will process the soluble fiber differently than the normal wheat-based pasta that you’re used to. You may experience an “over-stuffed” feeling should you try to eat more than the 3oz. serving size.
There are reports/reviews that the noodles smell “fishy” when you take them out of the bag. To eliminate the “fish” smell you need to rinse them well in a strainer, boil them for 3-5 minutes and then use them in your meal however you like (soups, stir-fry, seasoned, etc). If you fail to complete a thorough rinse, you will find they may have an unpleasant odor.
The noodles will take on the flavor of whatever you put them in, but they still will not hold the same texture of wheat-based noodles so keep this in mind when making dishes with them.
So if you’re ready to try something new and healthy click here!
Stay Tuned! I received my samples of Miracle Noodles and I have now written a Full flavor review.