The Two-Week Shirataki Diet: What the Japanese TV Report Showed

What happened in the two-week challenge?

In a 2017 Japanese TV segment, 22-year-old Akina Kawai, who was 161 cm tall, ate meals made with shirataki for two weeks without adding exercise. The program reported a 7.2 kg change in weight and a 16 cm change at the waist. Reporting on her return to the show the following year said she had regained 7.5 kg. (MyNavi News, April 19, 2018)

How many calories are in shirataki noodles?

Plain shirataki, also known as konjac noodles, has 7 kcal per 100 g in Japan’s standard food composition tables. Calories in the finished dish depend on the amount substituted and ingredients such as oil and sauces. (Japan’s food composition database, MEXT)

Two ways the program used shirataki

For shirataki rice, finely chop the noodles and cook them together with white rice and mixed grains, using three parts white rice to one part mixed grains. The program’s example compared 252 kcal with 198 kcal per 150 g bowl.

For shrimp and asparagus with pesto, cut the shirataki into long strands to use in place of pasta. Sauté the shrimp and asparagus and toss them with the noodles and basil pesto. The broadcast compared 445 kcal for its pasta version with 116 kcal for its shirataki version. These figures describe the dishes shown on TV. The original article didn’t record a complete set of ingredient weights.

Follow the preparation instructions on your packet. Japan’s food guide offers a broader way to plan meals around a mix of foods. (Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top)