Benefits Of Gum Arabic

Benefits of Gum Arabic

Gum Arabic is a gum made of sap extracted from two different species of the wild acacia tree; Acacia Seyal and Acacia Senegal. It is harvested from Sudan and Somalia to Sudan, although it was historically grown in West Asia. Gum Arabic has as array of uses and is an ingredient in various traditional applications such as printing, cosmetics, glue, and paint production among others. This article will highlight other common uses of gum Arabic.

1. Art and painting
Since it easily dissolves in water, Gum Arabic is a great binder for painting. This means that any type of coat or color is suspended in varying quantities within its layers, resulting in great water color paint. In other words, it is a diluent or vehicle that helps transfer the paint/ coat to the surface. When moisture evaporates, Gum Arabic easily binds the color to the surface of the paper.

2. Printmaking
Another common use of gum Arabic is in printmaking. When it comes to print making, ink often fills into the white space if there is not adequate gum, so to speak. This is where Gum Arabic comes to play; it helps form layers of the much needed gum used to create a barrier that prevents the ink from filling into the image during printing.

3. Lowers cholesterol
While studies are still at their preliminary stages, researchers attest that Gum Arabic may help low high cholesterol levels. In addition to this, Gum Arabic is an essential ingredient in laundry detergents, baking soda, glues and pesticides.

When used regularly, Gum Arabic may cause digestive disorders like loose stools, bloating and gas. Some people also experience allergic reactions to Gum diets high in Acacia or Gum Arabic nutritional supplements. As a precaution, pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking Gum Arabic to avoid the onset of adverse effects.

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