And the saddest part of this story? Health Canada knows they're potentially fatal yet instead of pulling them off the market, they've issued a warning that states,
"The risk to Canadians includes choking and/or blockage of the throat, esophagus or intestine"So what are the products? They're the ones that contain "glucomannan", a pectin like fibre that when mixed with water (or bodily fluids) forms a gel that according to one product's website, "multiplies in volume by 17 times" leading you to feel fuller (and apparently potentially cause you to choke to death or suffer a bowel obstruction). Currently according to the Natural Food Directorate's search by ingredient feature, there are 10 such products officially licensed in Canada.
So is glucommanan so wonderful it's worth risking choking to death or a bowel obstruction? Some small scale studies do suggest that glucommanan might lead a person to lose 3-5lbs more than not taking glucomannan.
Sounds like a great plan.
So how many of our tax dollars go to fund the Natural Health Products Directorate? They're doing a bang up job.
Posts
why do they need to sell it as a CAPSULE?
ReplyDeleteThis is the same material used to make the zero calorie Shiratake noodles you see in the Asian supermakets.
I used to use this bulk powder (you can get the bulk powder by mail and in some of Toronto's Asian supermarkets. Sanko definitely used to carry it) to make a very low calorie toffee/rubbery ice cream - konjac/glucomannan, liquid splenda, sugar TWIN, plus whipped cottage cheese and raspberries. great stuff, and something like 400 calories in 2 meals filled me up for the whole day.
Multiple sweeteners seemed to work better than larger amounts of one sweetener.