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Hi all, I've been wondering a lot about whether to count net carbs or all carbs. Most everyone counts all carbs when going low carb paleo. I was wondering why that is? Is the extra carb in the form of fiber harmful?

On a related note, how paleo are shirataki noodles? (Not tofu ones--just plain yam noodles). They are basically all fiber and nothing else. I find them useful as a vehicle for some fatty sauce/protein, and since I'm trying to lose weight I think they'd work pretty well but I've been trying to not depend on them too much since they aren't very paleo. Similarly, is konjac fiber (the stuff the noodles are made of) bad? (I make a kind of gel with it, again for sauce-carrying abilities). I know xanthan/guar gum is also not so paleo...but how about a little bit in my smoothies for thickening/creaminess? Will this affect me in the long run?

ps - I love using cauliflower to replace rice/soaking up sauces, but I'm hypothyroid and shouldn't eat too much of it. Anyone know of a similar nongoitrogenic low carb replacement?

Sorry this is all over the place! But I feel like they are related... thanks!

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3 Answers

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Konjac is a traditional Japanese food. WHo knows how far back they ate it! The Japanese feel it is a healthy food, but I don't see much research on it. From what I have read, seems like there is nothing obviously harmful about eating it. Ample evidence suggests that fiber and filling foods will not fool your body over the long haul to lose weight either. The body knows how much calories you have eaten and will adjust your body accordingly. I consider konjac to be a neutral food for most people. I don't know anyone who has had a prob with the fiber although I guess if you have digestion probs , you might want to be cautious there. I personally do not consider fiber a prob for most people. It does not spike blood sugars and it does not go to the liver and turn into trigs. The only possible bad thing is if undigested fiber 'might' feed bacteria in the gut and contribute to GERD. But I don't have evidence for that and my digestion is fine so I don't stay up late worrying about it and I do sometimes eat shiritaki. -Eva

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It really depends on your definition of "paleo" and waht you want. What exactly do you mean by "not very paleo"? Shirataki noodles did not exist 10000 years ago period.

If orthodox paleo is what you are looking for than stop eating those noodles (and stop eating anything at all because very few of the plants and animals that exist today did exist back then in the same genetic configuration...) If you just want to eat healthy, are willing to try out different foods and still want to eat something even though some dogma may prohibit it: Just go for it.

Konjac is just a plant. Plants are not bad. Are Shirataki noodles processed? Sure, just as mashed sweet potatoes are, And just like about anything you heat before you put it in your mouth.

Will this affect me in the long run?

Nobody can tell except for yourself. I've been eating loads of sugar, pasta, bread and artificial stuff for more than 25 years and I'm still alive and kickin'. The human body is astoundingly robust. I can't think of a reason why the Konjac plant should be harmful. If you like those noodles then just go ahead and eat them. Personally, I think they are tasteless but I absolutely grasp your concept of soaking up sauce.

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Plenty of plants are bad, natural =\= healthy, cyanide is natural – Stephen-Aegis Jul 29 2010 at 14:53
Not saying konjac is bad, just saying don't blindly assume ANYTHING is good – Stephen-Aegis Jul 29 2010 at 14:54
ive eaten konjac noodles before. I wouldnt recommend them long term, but they are good for short term weight loss. Eating less calories can be done with control.. but with shirataki noodles you can feel extremely full but be way low on your calories. – Sal Jul 29 2010 at 14:58
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 @Stephen-Aegis: I didn't say "natural" equals "healthy". But I'd say "unhealthy (in some way)" does not equal "bad". As in: Using 'good' or 'bad' to describe foods just complicates matters ("Croissants are good in taste but bad in health"...) – Gone Jul 29 2010 at 17:13
Yeah--I tend to overeat on calories by a lot, so was thinking the noodles would help a bit. – xue Jul 30 2010 at 13:39
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I'm hypothyroid too, but my understanding is that the goitrogen issue is radically decreased with cooked vegetables. I've stopped worrying about eating them (cooked) as they don't seem to affect me in any way. Never tried the noodles so I can't comment on those.

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