Can Miracle Noodles Help You Lose Weight?

Miracle Noodles, also known as shirataki noodles, are noodles made out of a soluble fiber called glucomannan. This fiber is made from the root of a plant grown mostly in Asia and it contains no calories or carbs. These noodles have become a big hit on the diet scene, especially with low-carb dieters who usually avoid pasta. Miracle Noodles seemed a bit too miraculous to be true, so I decided to give them a try and find out whether a zero calorie, zero carb pasta alternative could really exist.

Buying Miracle Noodles

There are several places to buy Miracle, or shirataki noodles. If you have an Asian grocery store or an international food market nearby, you will probably find both regular shirataki noodles and tofu shirataki noodles. You can also buy Miracle Noodles in bulk from www.miraclenoodle.com, which is what I did. The price is fairly reasonable, but buying them locally would probably still be cheaper.

How Do Miracle Noodles Taste?

I was excited to try Miracle Noodles because I love pasta and hate that it is not considered a diet-friendly food. I looked up several recipes for miracle noodles online, and settled on a stir-fry recipe because several reviews said that Asian recipes work best with the noodles.

The first thing that hit me when I opened the package was the fishy smell, emanating from the liquid in which they were packed. I immediately lost my appetite, but decided to continue cooking anyway. Miracle Noodles need to be rinsed before you can use them, so I washed them until the smell was completely gone. I then tossed them with veggies and a spicy peanut sauce and gave them a try. I could not eat more than three bites. The flavor was fine, as they tasted exactly like the sauce. Unfortunately the combination of their chewy, slippery texture and the memory of the smell just reminded me of fish and worms. On the positive side, those three bites were enough to keep me full for hours, probably because of the large amount of fiber.

Do Miracle Noodles Help You Lose Weight?

While I did not use Miracle Noodles long enough to notice any weight loss, it is reasonable to guess that replacing a few meals a week with Miracle Noodles would result in weight loss. The noodles have no calories and no carbohydrates, so eating them will probably result in consuming fewer calories for the day. Since they are made of soluble fiber, they also promote fullness, which means you are less likely to overeat.

The Final Verdict on Miracle Noodles

While I personally will never try Miracle Noodles again, some people swear by them. My brother really liked the noodles and told me they reminded him of rice noodles. If the noodle's texture don't bother you, then they may be the perfect noodle substitute for you. I recommend buying a small amount to try and see if they are right for you.

Sources: Personal Experience

www.miraclenoodle.com