What is Xanthan Gum? Is it harmful to health?

In some foods, even cosmetics, if you learn about its ingredients, you will see the name Xanthan Gum. So what is Xanthan Gum, what are the benefits and harms to health? The following article would like to share information to help you better understand Xanthan Gum.

What is Xanthan Gum?

Xanthan Gum is a type of fermentable sugar

Xanthan Gum is actually a type of sugar that is fermented by a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris . When sugar is fermented, it forms a sticky paste, which is then thickened by the addition of alcohol. Finally they are dried and turned into a powder.

Xanthan Gum is an additive commonly added to foods as a thickener or stabilizer . This substance was discovered by scientists in 1963. It was then thoroughly studied and determined to be safe.

The FDA has recognized Xanthan Gum as a food additive and has not set a limit on how much Xanthan Gum in a food may contain.

Xanthan Gum is also a soluble fiber that your body cannot break down . They also do not provide any calories or nutrients.

Where is Xanthan Gum?

You will see Xanthan Gum ingredients in foods, industrial products, cosmetics,… namely:

Some creams contain Xanthan Gum

Foods containing Xanthan Gum

Thanks to Xanthan Gum, some foods can withstand a variety of temperatures and pH levels. In addition, it also helps food not to separate, providing elasticity and softness to food.

Here are some common foods that contain xanthan gum: Salads, fruit juices, soups, ice cream, syrups…

Personal care products

You can see Xanthan Gum in beauty and personal care products. Thanks to the ingredient Xanthan Gum, these products have the right consistency but still easily flow out of containers such as bottles, jars, boxes…

Here are some personal care products that contain Xanthan Gum: Toothpaste, shampoo, lotion,…

Xanthan Gum is found in industrial products

Xanthan Gum is used in industrial products because of its ability to withstand varying temperatures and pH levels and to help thicken liquids while maintaining good flow.

Common industrial products containing Xanthan Gum include: fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, wall paints, wall glues, etc.

Benefits of Xanthan Gum

When it comes to the benefits of Xanthan Gum, it is impossible not to mention the following benefits:

Reduce blood sugar

Some studies have shown that eating foods containing Xanthan Gum helps reduce blood sugar levels in the body. The reason is because Xanthan Gum turns fluids in the stomach and small intestine into a viscous gel-like substance that slows digestion and reduces the amount of sugar entering the bloodstream.

Xanthan Gum helps lower cholesterol

Lower cholesterol

A study of 1 man consuming 10 times the recommended amount of Xanthan Gum over 23 days. The results after the test again showed that this man’s cholesterol decreased by 10%.

Losing weight

Xanthan Gum helps increase feelings of fullness, slows down digestion, so it is said to support effective weight loss.

Increased frequency of defecation

At the same time, it also works to increase the movement of water into the intestine to help soften stools and be easily excreted, increasing the frequency of defecation.

Liquid thickener

Xanthan Gum helps thicken liquids for people who are elderly or have neurological disorders who have difficulty swallowing.

Side effects of Xanthan Gum on health

Side effects of Xanthan Gum on health

In addition to the health benefits, the use of Xanthan Gum can cause some side effects on health such as: Xanthan Gum can cause digestive problems , especially when consumed in excess. Too much Xanthan Gum will put pressure on the stomach and upset the stomach.

Is Xanthan Gum harmful to health or not?

Xanthan Gum can be harmful to health if taken in excess , more than 15g of Xanthan Gum . Especially if you belong to one of the following subjects, you should stay away from Xanthan Gum!

Allergies : If you are allergic to foods such as wheat, corn (corn), soy and milk, you should not use products containing Xanthan Gum because of the fact that Xanthan Gum is metabolized from sugar and sugar come from the foods mentioned above.

Premature babies : Simply Thick is a thickener with the main ingredient Xanthan Gum, which is added to milk for premature babies. However, some premature babies often have necrotizing enterocolitis, the intestines are inflamed and damaged, so using products containing Xanthan Gum will be very dangerous.

To be safe for the digestive tract of premature babies, milk containing Xanthan Gum should not be used.

If you are on medication, do not use products containing Xanthan Gum

People who are taking drugs : Xanthan Gum has the effect of lowering blood sugar, so if you are taking medication, especially taking medication for diabetes, you should not use Xanthan Gum.

Be careful when using Xanthan Gum in powder form : Do not let Xanthan Gum come into direct contact with your nose and respiratory tract because if your nose and throat come into contact with a large amount of Xanthan Gum powder, it will cause irritation and discomfort.

Is the use of Xanthan Gum harmful to health?

Only use Xanthan Gum in a small amount

If you use Xanthan Gum with a concentration not exceeding 1% / day, it will not cause harm to health . However, if you are allergic to Xanthan Gum, you should not use products related to Xanthan Gum to avoid harm to health.

Hopefully, the recent sharing will help you better understand Xanthan Gum about the uses and harms of this ingredient. Don’t forget to share the article if you find it useful!

Source: hellobacsi medical consultation doctor Nguyen Thuong Hanh

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