Guar gum is basically a natural byproduct of guar beans, wherein their husks are removed, the seeds are milled and screened. Normally, the gum itself is produced to be white (to off-white) powder. Some turn this powder into capsules and package it as a weight reducing medication for easier absorption.
In a nutshell, guar gum is water-soluble fiber that is a good laxative or purgative agent. Some people claim it is an alternative to papaya, which is also a good promoter of regular bowel movements and eases off constipation and stomach aches due to such. Furthermore, it scraps off excess fats and toxins in the colon. In fact, there are many clinical studies that affirm that intake of guar gum has a significant effect on preventing and lowering colon cancer.
Although guar gum sounds like an anti-obesity alternative, there are some studies also claim that this is not a good jumpstart in weight loss. It is found out that guar gum causes significant variations in our sugar levels. Some pharmaceuticals made use of guar gum as one their components (ingredients) for a weight loss drug formulation.
Other people substitute guar gum rice and other examples of go foods but in smaller proportions. They say eating ½ cup of guar gum is equivalent of 2 cups of rice already in terms of satisfying hunger and of carbohydrates.
At the end of the day, effective weight loss still remains a combination of diet, exercise, discipline, and positivism in life.
