What is Xanthan Gum?
Xanthan gum is a popular food additive that works as a thickener and stabilizer. Made from corn, xanthan gum is produced when sucrose, lactose, or glucose gets fermented by bacteria, making a gummy substance. This mixture gets dehydrated and ground into a powder, which is how xanthan gum gets used commercially and in home kitchens around the world.
Keto Status?
Debatable
Why?
Zero net carbs. Lowers blood sugar, eases constipation, and lowers cholesterol, but also may cause inflammation, and gut issues, and can upset the balance of the bacteria in the gut. This ingredient has mixed reports between keto-friendly and not keto-friendly.
Possible Side Effects From Ingesting Xanthan Gum?
May cause a laxative effect and may increase gas
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PLEASE NOTE – I Heart Keto Mart will add more sources and up-to-date research articles as they come to our attention. We welcome any of our viewers to send us any information/research/articles that you think would be of interest to our rating decision. Keep in mind – we are not rating ingredients solely on their general health benefits or side effects. To see our rating process, click on the link below.
I Heart Keto Mart Rating Guide
I Heart Keto Mart rates all ingredients through a “keto diet” & “low carb diet” lens. As an example, peas would be rated as “Acceptable” on a non-keto healthy diet; however, due to their carbohydrate level, we rate them “Objectionable”. We also rate all sweeteners that typically cause a rise in blood sugar and insulin levels as “Objectionable”. If you prefer a natural sweetener, like honey, over a sugar alcohol like erythritol, you may not agree with our “Objectionable” rating. I Heart Keto Mart rates all ingredients based first and foremost for those that have a sugar/carbohydrate addiction. Ingredients are rated for those who must moderate if not completely abstain from any sugars. If you have questions about this, please refer to this article: Why Some Whole Foods Are Not Keto Friendly
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