Search results

Due to white rice’s association with diabetes and other chronic diseases in many Asian countries, many industries are working to develop high-fiber rice substitutes with similar organoleptic characteristics. Konjac rice (KR) is a promising option, but maintaining its optimal fiber content for health benefits while preserving its ideal sensory profile remains a challenge. This study aims to investigate whether a KR formula, combining tapioca flour and glucomannan gel, possesses similar organoleptic attributes to white rice while preventing glycemic response elevation.

In a six-week randomized single-blind clinical trial, 13 normoweight nondiabetic subjects received varying konjac-based rice and white rice ratios. Blood glucose levels were measured at intervals, and glycemic response was assessed using incremental area under the curve (iAUC). Visual analog scale gauged satiety, and organoleptic properties were evaluated.

Substituting white rice with pure and partial konjac-based rice significantly lowered postprandial blood sugar levels and glycemic response (p = 0.002). iAUC for pure KR and KR 1:1 was notably lower than white rice (p = 0.002). Subjects reported a sense of fullness comparable to white rice, with no significant organoleptic score differences (p = 0.260).

The study’s generalizability is compromised due to the limited number of participants, impacting external validity. The examined parameters offer a rough understanding of konjac grain’s impact on postprandial glycemic responses but do not elucidate underlying mechanisms or the duration of its inhibitory effect on glucose absorption. Long-term effects on metabolic, hormonal parameters and the colon’s microbial flora composition and function remain unexplored, constraining comprehensive insights into konjac grain’s extended implications.

This study introduces a novel KR formula to address the escalating diabetes risks associated with white rice consumption. Substituting white rice with KR significantly reduces postprandial blood sugar levels, highlighting its potential in preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Tapioca flour enhances palatability, making KR a viable option. While promising, long-term effectiveness and safety require further research, emphasizing comprehensive lifestyle interventions. The study contributes valuable insights to innovative dietary strategies for prevalent health conditions, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts in public health.

White rice, a staple in Asian societies, is linked to a heightened risk of T2D due to increased production and inadequate dietary fiber. This connection contributes to the economic burden on governments through health insurance and lost productivity. Encouraging alternatives rich in fiber can mitigate this burden, offering a socioeconomically beneficial solution to preventable chronic diseases.

This trial demonstrates konjac-based rice’s potential in curbing glycemic responses, hinting at its role in preventing T2D. Glucomannan’s viscosity, satiety induction and potential gut health impact are highlighted. Further research is warranted for long-term effectiveness and safety. These findings contribute to the growing evidence supporting glucomannan as a valuable tool in addressing prevalent health conditions.

Research indicates that children’s early experience of fire can influence what and how they learn about fire. In turn, early fire-learning can influence how people come to use it later in life, including whether they engage in maladaptive use, i.e. firesetting. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms of fire-learning, which was the basis for this study. The research question was: “how do adults educate children about fire in the UK/ Ireland”? The purpose of this study was to explore the child fire education process from an adult perspective.

Semi-structured interviews was conducted with 21 fire-educators who had regular contact with children. Data was analysed using abbreviated grounded theory. Steps were taken to ensure reliability and validity, including a Cohen’s Kappa calculation, indicating an agreement level of 0.9 between two raters.

Four core themes were identified: the fire narrative, enabling growth, risk management, and communication, from which the fire-learning process model (F-LPM) was formed.

The main limitation is the nature of the sample, in that it was diverse and self-selecting.

The findings are discussed, including how they offer support for social learning theory (SLT) perspectives on fire-learning.

The social construction of fire (i.e. the way fire is viewed by society as a whole in the UK/ Ireland) is discussed in depth, and cultural variability is highlighted. Suggestions are made for how the societal view of fire and, consequently, how adults convey this to young people, could be better balanced.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in the UK/ Ireland to consider how adults educate young people about fire from a concurrent perspective. This is important given that research indicates early experiences of fire can impact how people later go on to use it (including maladaptive use in the form of firesetting).