lovesouthernsocial.com

Learn about guar gum and xanthan gum, both used in food processing

Resized image by Dinesh Valke, available on Flickr

Guar gum is the name given to a fiber taken from the endosperm (part of the seed) of the plant. Cyamopsis tetragonolobus. It is used in food, both human and animal. It comes from the regions of India and Pakistan and has been known for centuries for its regional cultures, but began to be produced on a large scale in the 1950s.

Guar gum acts as a common thickener that improves the consistency of processed foods and can also be used in cosmetics and medicines. Because it is rich in fiber, guar gum wardes off hunger and helps fight cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. As such, it is widely used in the manufacture of shakes for slimming.

The Federal University of Ceará found that one of the components of guar gum can reduce pain and contain the loss of cartilage in the joints, in addition to rebuilding part of the movements that were lost with arthrosis - a disease that acts in the elderly and immobilizes hands, hips, feet and knees. Studies carried out at the UFC also point to the possibility of using the substance from the plant's seed as an anesthetic.

There is no medication on the market that blocks the progression of arthrosis, but the results of the experiments carried out by the university suggest that the substance removed from the guar gum could be used both as a gel and as a solution for this purpose. Therefore, it would be applied to protect against the destruction of the cartilage that lines bones.

Guar Gum X Xanthan Gum

In addition to guar gum, there is also xanthan gum. The latter allows food starches to keep the air trapped, while guar gum keeps large particles in suspension. Generally, guar gum is good for preparing cold foods, such as fillings, while xanthan gum is the best choice for pastries, as it replaces gluten in flour and pasta, but both are vegan and gluten-free options.

• Vegan philosophy: know and ask your questions
• What is gluten? Bad guy or good guy?
• Celiac Disease: Symptoms, What Is It, Diagnosis and Treatment

food

If you want to eat healthier, guar gum is a good thing. In baked goods or dairy products, such as cheeses, yoghurts and mousses, it is desirable so that the food does not lose water, which would leave your food without texture, hard and dry. When a food is frozen, its water turns into ice crystals and, upon defrosting, the whey is easily lost and, consequently, the texture quality declines.

Guar gum is also widely used in puddings and ice cream, as it prevents the formation of ice crystals and the separation of ingredients. Because it has a lot of fiber, when consumed in excess, it can have laxative effects on people with more fragile digestive systems. And, when added to baked products, it is better to mix with liquid ingredients, as opposed to xanthan gum, which works better when mixed with dry ones.

Adding xanthan gum to ice cream, for example, also prevents the formation of ice crystals, making the cream smoother and making it not need cream in the recipe. But xanthan gum is best used in dry products such as bread and pasta. Although this gum has fat, it is a polysaccharide obtained by the fermentation of cereals, which makes xanthan an ideal choice for people intolerant or allergic to gluten or wheat.

Revenues

To prepare cold dishes with guar gum, one to two teaspoons are needed for each liter of liquid. For hot foods such as sauces, you need up to three teaspoons for every liter. For liquids with a high acidity content, such as lemon juice, it is better to add larger amounts of gum to compensate.

In the case of xanthan gum, the amount to be used varies for each food. For cakes, ¼ teaspoon is needed for every 125 g of flour; cookies don't need the gum; for quick breads, use ¼ to ½ of a teaspoon per 125 g of flour; and, in baked goods, 1 to 2 teaspoons per 125 g of flour.

Both types of gum are cultivated in South Asia, where there are regions with an arid and semi-arid climate. Major importers are countries like Brazil, the United States, Portugal and Chile.