Fiber Enhancement -

The hidden health benefits of gums

Smooth, rich, creamy...it's easy to see the results of using gums and stabilizers from TIC Gums to modify the texture of a food. You have to look a little deeper to see the hidden benefits of gums.

Concealed beneath an unassuming exterior, most gums are also an excellent source of soluble dietary fiber, contributing towards a more healthful diet. This means our staff of Gum Gurus can help you meet your goals for texture and stability as well as your goals for health and wellness.

Consumers want (and need) more fiber

Medical and nutrition experts assert that increased consumption of dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, promotes a healthy cardiovascular system and helps to maintain blood sugar and cholesterol levels already within their normal limits. In fact, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 advise that adults consume between 25–30 grams of fiber a day; yet, the average American consumes only 14 to 15 grams of dietary fiber on a daily basis. This difference may prove to be crucial in terms of health and longevity.

According to a study of consumer eating habits published in 2008, 56% of U.S. consumers reported increasing their consumption of whole grain foods in the last five years.  

However, while many consumers feel that the consumption of fiber is important, they are still unsure as to what it is and which types are best. This lack of awareness and the resulting lack of consumption is contributing to increases in obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As the Baby Boomer generation lives longer, the incidences of these illnesses will only increase.

Creamy texture — It doesn’t come as a shock—consumers are expecting more healthful paybacks from the foods they already consume regularly. They are less likely to take supplements and aren’t willing to sacrifice taste for perceived health benefits. This means each ingredient should be multifunctional, bringing both stabilizing functionality and positive label implications.

Maintain healthy cholesterol already within normal limits — Cholesterol is essential for the function of the human body and comes from the diet and or is manufactured by the liver. Soluble fiber binds with cholesterol in the intestine and is excreted from the body, signaling the liver to pull more cholesterol from the bloodstream or to produce more. Consuming foods rich in soluble fiber helps maintain this balance.

Lower glycemic response — The blood glucose level in the human body depends greatly on diet and fluctuates throughout the day. Some carbohydrates can cause wide swings in glycemic response while others have very low glycemic responses. Soluble dietary fiber traps carbohydrates and slows their absorption, helping to maintain a more consistent glycemic response.

Increase soluble dietary fiber — Most gums are 80% soluble dietary fiber on a dry weight basis, providing more soluble fiber than other sources such as oat or wheat bran.⁽¹⁾ And because gums and stabilizers from TIC Gums range from slightly viscous to very viscous, formulators can easily select the fiber source that performs best in their finished application.

Prebiotic — help maintain healthy intestinal tract — Beneficial bacteria living in the human intestine are a key element of a healthy digestive system and overall health and wellness. Soluble dietary fiber has been shown to be a source of energy for the microflora and have a prebiotic affect.

Get the facts about gums as sources of soluble dietary fiber

Request our Guide to Using Gums in Functional Foods (link to contact form) and its companion piece Review of Research on the Dietary Benefits of Gums to learn more about gums and how they can be used to add soluble dietary fiber to your foods and beverages.

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www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/

^{1  Pomeranz, Y.  Functional Properties of Food Components. Academic Press, New York, 1985. (this should be the only foot note)}