Is Gum Arabic Bad For You?
Also Known As: acacia gum
Short answer
Gum arabic, otherwise known as acacia gum, is not bad for you per se. It’s nontoxic and provides some health benefits, including helping wounds heal quicker and offering significant fiber. However, allergic reactions are common and it can slow the absorption of certain medications.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Gum arabic, or acacia gum, is a natural gum that comes from the acacia tree, hence the name. For centuries, it has been used for a wide variety of things—including as a topical treatment for open wounds, food additive, and a fiber supplement.
So is gum arabic safe and effective for all of that?
Let’s start with its usage as a topical treatment. Acacia has been applied to open wounds to promote quicker healing for centuries now—and it really seems to work. In a recent study on animal test subjects, applying acacia caesia over open wounds led to significantly faster healing than in the control group. Doctors believe this is due to acacia gum’s unique chemical composition, which includes flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides.
Today, gum arabic is much more widely known as a food additive. It’s used in just about everything, from chewing gum to icing and even as an emulsifier in popular soft drinks. Gum arabic is non-toxic and tasteless. It’s primarily used as a thickening agent... however, it has substantial health benefits as well. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has even recognized acacia as a decent source of fiber in many widely consumed foods: juice, yogurt, cereal and more.
Due to its high fiber content, acacia gum is also steadily gaining ground as a standalone, over-the-counter supplement. Fiber is a nutrient staple, as it helps you feel fuller longer, maintain a healthy weight and even offers substantial cardiovascular health benefits. Since the 1980s, various studies have found that the high water-soluble dietary fiber content of gum arabic can help reduce cholesterol levels. Most recently, a 2015 study published in Front Physiol reported that participants taking 30g of gum arabic per day saw a significant reduction in total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL in a four-week period, compared to those who took nothing.
Though gum arabic does seem to do a lot of good, it’s not recommended for everyone. As it does contain fiber, there are some minor digestive side effects to be aware of: gas, bloating and diarrhea. Allergic reactions are also fairly common and can cause skin irritation, lesions or even severe respiratory issues. Finally, gum arabic can interact with certain medications (antibiotics in particular) and slow or prevent their absorption into your bloodstream.
For these reasons, you should consult your physician before applying gum arabic as a topical treatment or incorporating the supplement into your diet.
Possible short-term side effects
- skin irritation, lesions and respiratory issues (due to allergic reaction)
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bloating
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gas
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loose stools
Commonly found in
- icing
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fillings
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chewing gum
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paint
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glue
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various cosmetics
Benefits
- promotes wound healing
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contains significant fiber
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helps lower cholesterol
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