Guar gum is gaining popularity as additive in the food &beverage industry
Guar gum is primarily used in the form of guar gum capsules as a
stabilizer in the food, textiles, paper, chemical, oil, petroleum refining, and
cosmetic industry. Its popularity in the food industry is mainly due to its
antimicrobial property. Guar gum is highly useful for controlling the growth of
harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
Guar gum aqueous solutions have a high degree of viscosity and it
is used as a lubricant in various manufacturing industries. Low viscosity
lubricants help in overcoming the inherent problems of food processing. The
ingredients of this product are primarily alkaloids, phenols, carboxylic acids,
and flavonoids. Guar gum has a low
molecular weight and hence, it easily enters into solution form, where it can
be readily absorbed.
In food processing, it is usually mixed with water and baking soda
to increase its shelf life. Heat tends to reduce the shelf life of this
ingredient and hence it is added in hot liquids such as vegetable oil, milk,
eggs, and fruits. During storage, it tends to expand due to osmotic pressure
and thus it is stored in a cool area such as a refrigerator. The use of this as
a thickener in food or drink solutions increases its shelf life and it remains
intact for months at a stretch. It is also added to some medications to
increase the effectiveness of its therapeutic action.
Guar gum useful as a treatment for diabetes and gastrectomy due to
ulcers due to the ability of the herb to reduce the concentration of sugar in
the blood, reduce the level of gastric acid and increase the concentration of
glucose in the blood. Thus the intake of guar gum was able to reduce the risk
of progression of type 2 diabetes. This is attributed to its ability to
increase the number of glucose transporters and decrease the rates of
glycolysis in the liver.
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