Leafy aquatic green Mankai holds potential to “revolutionize” food consumption

26 Oct 2021 --- Mankai, a patented strain of Wolffia globosa, has the potential to “change the way people consume vegetables and leverage food for health.”

This is according to Ephi Eyal, the CEO of Mankai and Dr. Iris Shai, adjunct professor of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, who speak to NutritionInsight about the future of this tiny, nutrient-dense vegetable.

“We are at the beginning of understanding Mankai’s potential. The clinical studies involving Mankai associate it with supporting blood sugar levels, creating a beneficial glycemic response after eating, aiding weight loss and decreasing waist circumference, contributing to liver health and supporting the gut microbiome,” details Eyal.

Small but nutritionally dense
Mankai belongs to the Lemnaceae family and is grown hydroponically in water basins within large greenhouses that the company has created to optimize its growth cycle. Each Mankai plant is 1/64th of an inch in size, he explains.

“Mankai is the smallest, most nutrient-dense vegetable. With a measurable impact on weight loss, liver health and glycemic control and with its nutritional content including complete protein, iron and B12, Mankai has the potential to change the way people consume vegetables and leverage food for health,” states Eyal.A Mediterranean diet that includes Mankai has been linked to elevated fasting ghrelin levels.

The vegetable has a neutral taste and texture that makes it easy to integrate into any food. Mankai can be easily mixed into smoothies, tossed into a pasta dish, added with guacamole or blended into salad dressing or sauces.

“It can be incorporated into almost any diet, making it suitable for consumers who most often lack sufficient vegetable nutrition,” Eyal continues.

Increases ghrelin levels
A recent study has further thrown Mankai into the spotlight. It was found to increase the “hunger hormone” ghrelin levels due to its higher dietary polyphenol and dietary fiber content. Also, individuals who have higher fasting ghrelin levels following weight loss have a lower risk of developing diabetes or other metabolic diseases.

“The greater increase in fasting ghrelin levels among male green-Mediterranean dieters compared to a healthy diet group and male Mediterranean dieters was fascinating,” explains Shai.

“Researchers expected that elevated fasting ghrelin levels would be associated with favorable changes related to insulin sensitivity and abdominal adiposity, independent of weight loss. This could be revolutionary in how we think about food choices related to weight loss,” she continues.

Mankai and moderating hunger
The study also found that fasting levels of ghrelin rebound after weight loss, helping to reduce belly fat and improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin.Mankai has a measurable impact on weight loss, liver health and glycemic control.

“According to our research, this was the first documented study to show a differential trajectory of fasting ghrelin levels under equally calorie-restricted specific dietary interventions,” adds Shai.

The green-Mediterranean diet participants followed a traditional Mediterranean diet and added two to three cubes of Mankai in a daily smoothie as well as walnuts and three to four cups of green tea,” she adds.

“Together, the Mankai and green tea provided an additional 800 mg polyphenols a day, beyond the polyphenol content in the average normal Mediterranean diet.”

NutritionInsight previously reported on a study conducted by the Israel-based Ben-Gurion University of the Negev that found a green-Mediterranean diet – that includes Mankai – can lower the risk of liver disease by 50%.

Meanwhile, an international research team found that a Mankai diet optimizes the gut microbiome for an aFMT procedure that limits weight regain.

By Nicole Kerr

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