In terms of natural wrinkle fighters, you may have come across some seemingly strange ideas --- rubbing aspirin, guava or vegetable oil over your wrinkles, for example. Because shirataki noodles are touted online as a "miracle noodle" thanks to their lack of calories and carbs, you may have seen posts in online dieting forums asking about these noodles' effectiveness as a wrinkle remedy. The question remains unanswered and unproven.
Identification
Shirataki are a kind of thin, clear noodle made with plant fiber and water instead of flour. These noodles are touted as a multi-purpose diet food since they have zero calories, zero fat and less than a single carb per serving. In "The 5-Factor World Diet," Harley Pasternak and Laura Moser note that shirataki noddles are made from the konjak plant, a plant whose fibers contain glucomannan. Glucomannan is a form of dietary fiber that's water-soluble, making shirataki noodles a healthy addition to virtually any diet, whether your focus is low carbs, low calories or low fat.
Types
In "The Glycemic Load Cookbook," authors Rob Thompson and Dana Carpender describe the two different types of shirataki noodles. Traditional shirataki noodles are long, clear noodle strips. They have a viscous consistency, comparable to jelly, and come in plastic pouches filled with liquid. Tofu shirataki noodles have a bit more flavor and are white in color. The authors compare them to wheat noodles in terms of appearance. They also come in a plastic, liquid-filled pouch, available in Asian grocery stores or the Asian foods section of some supermarkets.
Wrinkles
There is no scientific evidence available to support a theory that shirataki noodles can help prevent or reduce the appearance of wrinkles. While shirataki noodles are promoted in several dieting books and cookbooks and a number of dieting blogs, they are not discussed by reputable sources in connection with skin care or beauty tips.
Benefits
In terms of your diet, shirataki noodles are better for you than traditional pasta because they lack the carbohydrates that make pasta off-limits for diabetics and carb-counters. In "Healing Remedies," Lydia and Joan Wilen describe two brands of shirataki noodles. The brand called "Miracle Noodle" contains zero calories and less than 1 g of carbs per serving. These noodles are also soy- and gluten-free, making them appropriate for people with celiac disease. A second brand of noodle, "House Foods Tofu Shirataki," contains 20 calories, 2 g of fiber and 3 g of carbs per serving.
Tips
Thompson and Carpender note that traditional shirataki noodles work best in Asian recipes, while tofu shirataki noodles can work in Western-style pasta recipes. They recommend traditional shirataki noodles for pad thai and sesame noodles; tofu shirataki can fill in for fettuccine or spaghetti noodles. Because the noodles come in a fishy-smelling liquid, you should drain and rinse them, then soak them in water for up to 20 minutes to eliminate any odor.
Member Comments