Guar gum, locust bean, gellan gum and other additives

Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.

Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh

Post Reply
Hopeful
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 227
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:24 pm

Guar gum, locust bean, gellan gum and other additives

Post by Hopeful »

Most store-bought nut, hemp and coconut milks I have come across seem to have some additives in common that emulsify and thicken them. But are they good for us? Here's what Chris Kresser has to say:
http://chriskresser.com/harmful-or-harm ... m-and-more
Sheila
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 1150
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 5:10 am
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fl

Post by Sheila »

If you are going to make GF bread or other baked goods, you need to use (most commonly) xanthan gum or guar gum. These products keep your bread from falling completely apart. Most GF bread also needs to be toasted to hold together. I use xanthan gum without any problems. Guar gum doesn't agree with me and I've never used the others.

Sheila W
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35065
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Chris,

Like virtually all additives, no, they're not good for us. But we use them if we can tolerate them, because they're typically not as bad for us as gluten, casein, etc. As our list of food sensitivities grows, we learn to choose the lessor of all the evil options. :lol:

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Pat
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 1068
Joined: Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:41 pm
Location: Texas

Post by Pat »

I have to say that guar gum has helped me immensely!!! I have made my own capsules and take them every day. I just upped it to 3 twice a day. That's about 1/4 tsp in each capsule so that is 1 1/2 tsp a day. I tried a long time ago taking other fiber supplements like Benefiber, Metamucil, Fiber con and they only made me worse. Never occurred to me to try guar gum, it is just a thickener. No one, not one dr, nutritionist, dietician, etc ever suggested that I try it. I accidentally discovered it through Thai Coconut milk. I ate some of it, it is so creamy and thick - it's the guar gum! It absorbs water in the gut!!! I am on a very restricted diet and some medications but between Imodium and guar gum I have having solid almost completely normans!!! YAY!!!!! I am hoping that upping it to 3 twice a day will created full normans! I will take as many as I need to take.

I recommend starting slow if you are going to try it. I started with one capsule a day, then upped it to 1 twice a day, etc.. I waited several days or a week between increasing. It can make you feel a little bloated at first if you take too much. I don't think our intestines are used to feeling full. Each time I upped it I felt a tiny bit bloated but within a day or two it goes away. This time I do not feel bloated so far.

Pat
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35065
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Hi Pat,

That's very interesting, to say the least. I suppose the old saying, "Anything is fair in love and war" applies to treating MC, also. :lol:

Many great discoveries are made by chance/accident. I'm just guessing of course, but I would suspect that guar gum is easier on the intestines than any of the fiber products, and it's probably more effective, to boot. You may have also created a whole new treatment approach for controlling idiopathic diarrhea (sometimes called IBS). You could call it Pat's Perfect Diarrhea Remedy.

Please keep us posted.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hopeful
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 227
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:24 pm

Post by Hopeful »

Interesting - keep us posted on this.

I try to avoid guar gum because it's derived from the guar beans grown in India. And I'm assuming that legumes are a no-no for me right now. Once I get Enterolab testing, I'll know more about whether legumes bother me.

Glad it works for you!
User avatar
Gabes-Apg
Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin
Posts: 8330
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia

Post by Gabes-Apg »

WOW!
goes to prove that in MC world.... what can help one MC'er, can be a major issue for another MC'er.
I cant do Guar Gum...

Pat, if it is working! stick with it!
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35065
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Pat,

I just thought of an even better name that's sure to be successful — Pat's Perfect Poo Potion. :grin: It should sell like hotcakes.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Pat
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 1068
Joined: Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:41 pm
Location: Texas

Post by Pat »

Tex,

Ha Ha :grin: It should be sold in capsules and it supposedly works both ways, for diarrhea or constipation.

Pat
User avatar
DJ
Gentoo Penguin
Gentoo Penguin
Posts: 478
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:15 am
Location: Upstate NY

Post by DJ »

Although I am not able to eat legumes, I tolerate guar gum very well. I drink tons of Silk coconut beverage. Unfortunately, I am not able to tolerate xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is best for baking and hot foods where guar gum is best for cold foods like salad dressing. I guess it's for the best that I can't find many store-bought baked goods. They are unhealthy in so many ways. Check out Brain Change by David Perlmutter, MD.
He feels that people who eat gluten and sugar have a much higher risk of brain disease.
User avatar
Rebecca2z
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 159
Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2017 9:40 am

A different Xanthan Gum

Post by Rebecca2z »

Authentic Foods Xanthan Gum is made using a cabbage base, you can read some good details on this
in the review section.
I thought this is a good way to use it in addition to baking with it-

"a pinch of xanthan gum to your homemade salad dressings for improved suspension of vinegar and oil."

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001 ... PDKIKX0DER
Image
Post Reply

Return to “Main Message Board”