Striving to be healthier has always been an important part of our lives, one way or another. It hasn’t been an easy mission though.

If you are unused to consuming a lot of fiber, you may experience some gas, bloating, or loose stool after you eat shirataki noodles. Usually, as you transition to a higher fiber regimen, these symptoms will improve.

Some people who have taken glucomannan in solid tablet form have experienced blockages in the digestive system because of the way glucomannan swells when it absorbs water. This issue should not occur with shirataki noodles because the water content is already in the noodles.

Shirataki noodles come in the shapes you know, such as angel hair and fettuccini. They are available either dry or in water. If you opt for the variety packed in water, you will notice a fishy smell when you open them up. The smell comes from the konjac flour. Drain the water and rinse them well, and the smell should go away. The dry variety will not have a smell.

Prepare the noodles like any other pasta, by boiling them in water. After draining the noodles, some cooks like to dry roast them in the pan to remove some of the water content and firm them up.

Because shirataki noodles have so little nutritional value, it's important to pair them with other ingredients that pack a nutrient-dense punch. You can substitute them for pasta in almost any recipe. They work well in Asian and Italian recipes. Here are some ideas to try:

Serve curry with shirataki noodles instead of rice for a lower-calorie dish.

Use shirataki noodles in classic miso soup.

Serve shirataki noodles with puttanesca sauce.

Make a cold pasta salad with veggies, noodles, and your favorite dressing.

Use shirataki noodles in a clean bowl with shredded carrots, red bell peppers, and edamame.

Substitute shirataki noodles for the rice noodles normally used in pho.