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What Is Guar Gum?
Guar gum is a complex carbohydrate that is derived from the guar plant seeds, primary
found in India and Pakistan. Guar gum is actually a kind of polymer known as galactomannan.
Guar beans are first dried, so that the seeds can be easily extracted out of them
These guar seeds are then wet-dried and subsequently crushed to fine or coarse powder
Properties
Easy solubility in cold and hot water Film forming property Resistance to oils,
greases and solvents better thickening agent Water binding capacity High viscosity
Functioning at low temperatures
Guar Gum Use
Food use:-
Guar gum is a very popular food thickener and stabilizer. It is used to bring about
viscosity and thickness in a number of food products. Just like other food additives
like coloring and flavor enhancers, guar gum is also a food additive belonging to
the emulsifier family along with locust bean and the xanthan gum. But it is a better
emulsifier because of the galactose content in it. It is due to the long polymer
chains that tangle with each other in the solution and thus increasing the solution
viscosity
Cosmetic Uses:-
Cosmetics industry uses guar gum, along with xanthan gum, as a thickener in beauty
products like face creams, moisturizers, shampoo conditioners, toothpastes, etc
Other Industries Using Guar Gum:-
Textile industry uses guar gum for finishing and printing of the textile productions.
• Paper industry uses it for better sheers and denser printing surface. • Oil drilling
industry for hydraulic rock fracturing. • As a binder in tablets for the pharmaceutical
industry
Guar Gum Benefits & Medicinal Properties:-
Guar gum is not just an emulsifying food additive, but is also laden with nutritional
and medicinal properties. It is very beneficial in achieving regular bowel movement
for those suffering from constipation. Its laxative properties are known to cure
chronic bowel functioning ailments like diverticulitis, colitis and irritable bowel
syndrome. It is very quick in its action of removing waste and bacteria from the
bowel With its high fiber content guar is also effective in managing cholesterol
levels, therefore being highly beneficial for those suffering from cholesterol disorders.
Obese and diabetic people should also increase their intake of guar gum. The water
soluble fiber of the guar gum helps in slow absorption of sugars by small intestine.
This helps diabetes patients control insulin and therefore the blood glucose. Guar
gum powder has some noticeable health benefits. It is a water-soluble fiber and
acts as a laxative to those who suffer from irregularity. Guar gum powder's solubility
also helps it to absorb toxic bacteria that causes diarrhea. Studies have also shown
that guar gum powder may also help reduce cholesterol.
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