Oodles of Noodles for No Carbs and almost No Calories

After a long search, I have finally found somewhere to purchase Shiratake Noodles in Sydney - the Asian Supermarket on the ground floor of World Square in George Street.

For someone who is carb intolerant but loves pasta, I have died and gone to heaven. Not only do they contain zero net carbs, but only 5 calories per 100g. That is not a typo - 5 little calories. The noodles don't have much taste, but they bulk up a meal and FILL me up (I eat the whole bag ~ 200g). It is especially nice to have a full tummy.

From About.com
Shirataki noodles are made from the tubers of an Asian plant (Amorphophallus konjac) called a konjac plant. The tubers are dried and ground to make a flour which is then used to make noodles.

The noodles have a gelatinous consistency and have no real flavor.

Shirataki noodles contain almost no calories, carbohydrates, fat, sugar, protein, or gluten. Although shirataki noodles contain carbohydrates, very little of it is digested in the small intestine.

In addition to having almost no calories or usable carbohydrates, shirataki noodles contain a type of soluble fiber called glucomannan.

When glucomannan combines with water, it can swell to up to 17 times its original volume. When eaten, it swells in the digestive tract forming a gel-like mass, which is believed to promote a sense of fullness and keep food in the stomach longer.

It may work in other ways, such as reducing the amount of insulin produced after a meal.

Three small but well-designed studies have found that glucomannan supplements may promote weight loss, presumably by reducing hunger. Larger studies are needed.

Fiber is also known to help lower cholesterol, improve constipation by acting as a bulk laxative. Fiber also may help regulate blood sugar, possibly through a delay in stomach emptying.

Shirataki noodles come packed in liquid. They have a fishy odor that many people find unpleasant, but it can be removed with thorough rinsing.

The only real downsides of shirataki noodles are that it's still hard to find and the consistency. Many people feel they are rubbery. Boiling the noodles for two to three minutes helps soften them.