Guar Gum

Orby

Trying everywhere to track this down - help please!!

EileenG

What do you want to use it for?

mukki

http://www.zhion.com/phytonutrients/Guar_gum.html

HEALTH Some manufacturers promote guar gum as a agent for weight
managment (or weight loss). Theoretically, guar gum decreases
appetite by providing a "feeling of fullness." However, because of its
swelling properties, guar gum may cause obstruction of the
esophagus, if a subject is taking an excessive amount of guar gum.
Guar gum can swell as much as 20 fold. Thus, people should not
exceed the recommended dose of guar gum supplements.

If guar gum can reduce chemical absorption. it probably can also
reduce glucose absorption. Thus, it may cause glucose fluctuations.
People with diabetes should take guar gum preparations under
doctor's instruction. [2] During the fermentation of guar gum in the
large intestine, carbon dioxide, fatty acid and hydrogen are produced
and they will lower the pH of the medium.

Prolonged ingestion of guar gum increased the odd for colorectal
cancer in the studies of rats. [3-8]. One group explained that the
soluble fiber did not raise distal butyrate concentration high enough to
protect the colon from cancer, as butyrate demonstrated to slow the
growth of cancer cells cultured in vitro. [5] However, two other studies
suggested that guar gum was non-carcinogenic. [10,11] More
interesting, researchers found dietary fiber supplementation with 10%
pectin or with 10% guar gum (fed during the promotional stage of
carcinogenesis) suppressed colon cancer incidence in study of rats.

Khannie

Sounds like xanthan gum which you can get here. Very powerful stuff as a thickening agent.

Orby

Hi- I want to use it as a thickener for specific recipe. Was hoping I could buy in a shop - seems to be only available online.

Khannie

I have some xanthan gum. You're welcome to a bit of it (free of course) if you live in Dublin.

EileenG

If it's for recipe, then xantham gum should do the job. If you are hoping for the fullness factor, then glucomannam will do that.

Orby

Hi
Thanks so much Khannie but I have xanthan gum already.
It's specifically guar gum I need! Xanthan won't work.

Eileen G - I haven't heard of glucomannam - where do you buy that?

Thanks everyone

EileenG

It's also called konjac. I've bought it in Health Matters in Grafton Street, and I'm sure other places have it. However, I have to point out that most of us are not overweight because we can't deal with hunger, it's because we can't resist the smell of doughnuts, or say no to a home made cake, or skip the dessert when it comes as part of a meal.

When I'm genuinely hungry, I'll eat raw mushrooms to tide me over until meal time. The real problem is the stuff on the table at the meal, which I know I don't really need, but it's got garlic butter on it, and tastes wonderful.....

Khannie

EileenG wrote: »

The real problem is the stuff on the table at the meal, which I know I don't really need, but it's got garlic butter on it, and tastes wonderful.....

This is my weak point too. I'll have meat sauce and a plate load of veg when the rest of the family are having spag bol, but I just can't resist that damned garlic bread. It keeps poking me in the eye!

Orby

Will this product thicken something without having to be heated?

Thanks for replies everyone

EileenG

Xantham gum is the best thickener for non heated stuff. You have to whisk or blend for best effect, but it really works well. Gluconnamon thickens a little, but not the same way.

Depending on what you are making, you can sometimes use psyllium husk as a thickener.

Oh, and don't forget old fashioned gelatin. Or egg white.