What You Didn’t Know About Guar Gum

Guar gum, an off-white powder also known as guaran, is made from ground guar beans, which are de-husked, milled and screened. Guar beans are grown throughout India and Australia, as well as the United States, Pakistan, China and Africa. However, India is the main producer of guar beans, producing over a million tonnes each year and accounting for over 3/4 of the production worldwide. Guar gum has many industrial and food applications, as the largest market for this chemical product is the food industry. Some of the most popular food applications include:

• In canned soup, guar gum is used as a thickener/stabilizer.

• In sauces, salad dressings, ketchups, relishes and other condiments, guar gum enhances the appearance and stability.

• For dairy products like milk, liquid cheese and yogurt, guar gum acts as a food thickener. For food products such as ice creams and sherbets, guar gum helps maintain a uniform texture throughout by preventing ice crystals from forming.

• In baked goods, guar gum improves texture, as well as shelf life. It also increases dough yield.

Some of the most popular industrial applications include:

• In the textile industry, guar gum is used for sizing, finishing and printing.

• In the explosives industry, guar gum is used as a waterproofing agent.

• In the pharmaceutical industry, guar gum is used as a binder and disintegrator in tablets.

• In medical institutions, guar gum is used to thicken liquids and foods for patients with dysphagia. It is also known to treat diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, and diabetes, as well as reduce cholesterol.

At our Orlando chemical supply company, guar gum is just one of the many nutritional chemical products we offer. We also stock many hard to find tech-grade chemicals, USP ingredients and custom compounds. Call us at 407-339-BELL (2355) for a full list of our chemical products.