Agar agar (also known as simply agar) is a plant-based food thickener that can be substituted for animal based thickeners like gelatin. It is a flavorless gel like substance that is derived from red algae. It is an amazingly versatile substance and is also packed with micronutrients. It’s low in calories but high in iron, manganese, magnesium, folate, and fiber. It may also help improve digestive health, aid in weight loss and keep your blood sugar stable.
You can find it in powder, flake, and bar form. It can be mixed with liquid and simmered to act as a thickening agent for desserts, soups and sauces. I’ve often used brown rice flour as a thickener for sauces, but agar agar is more gelatinous which is ideal in some situations. You can substitute it for 1:1 for gelatin. Look for it with other thickeners like xanthum gum, in the baking section of stores.
Here is a deeper look at some of the benefits of agar agar:
Rich in Iron
One ounce of agar agar supplies 33% of the iron you need in a day. Iron can help promote the production of healthy red blood cells. Anemia is a condition that occurs when your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells, resulting in symptoms like fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath. There are many potential causes of anemia, ranging from blood loss to chronic disease, but a deficiency in important nutrients like iron is one of the most common underlying causes of anemia. Other good sources of iron are meat, fish, tofu, eggs, beans and pulses, and nuts and seeds.
High in Fiber
In general, foods high in fiber like agar agar, are beneficial for multiple reasons. Fiber moves slowly through the digestive tract, generating a feeling of fullness and and reducing appetite. It is also soothing to the digestive track, which may make it very helpful with digestive disorders such as IBS, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory conditions. In addition, foods high in fiber, act like natural laxatives, adding bulk to the stool and getting things moving. Another benefit of a high fiber diet is blood sugar stabilization. Diets rich in fiber may also help lower cholesterol.
Rich in Calcium and Manganese
Agar agar is rich in two important nutrients that are required for bone health. Calcium is well know for it’s bone health benefits. But the trace element manganese can also profoundly affect bone health. In recent decades research has uncovered the special role manganese plays as a co-factor in the formation of bone cartilage and bone collagen, as well as in bone mineralization.
Absorbs Glucose and Bile
Agar agar may have benefits in improving blood sugar levels. It is not scientifically proved but it is believed to cure insulin resistance. Agar agar also absorbs glucose from the stomach and passes through the digestive system quickly.
It may not have scientific backing but its impact on HDL is believed to be immense. It absorbs bile and by doing so it takes off extra cholesterol too by dissolving them. Because of this ability, agar agar has been a traditional medicine for treating infant jaundice. This is because it reduces bilirubin levels in infants by absorbing bile. When is used in conjunction with light therapy, which also reduces bilirubin levels, it reduces the time required by light therapy to cure the jaundice.
Moisturizing and Softening
In the cosmetic industry, agar agar be used to soften and moisturize skin and hair. It is also speculated to provide improved moisture-retention, which may help to reduce skin dryness. For this reason, agar is the ideal skincare ingredient to add to moisturizing products. In addition, it holds the ingredients together like gelatin, but again, offers a vegan option in beauty care products. Therefore, a number of cosmetic manufacturers are starting to use agar agar as one of the raw materials in making lipstick, soap, ointments, lotion and cream.
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