Key Facts to Know About Carrageenan
The carrageenan ingredient is everywhere. When you are shopping, it is impossible to find a grocery store that sells food products that do not include carrageenan. Also, most of the organic foods such as cold turkey cuts, baby formula, coconut milk, and yogurt have this ingredient. However, many people have not recognized the benefits of this ingredient, but they do consume various types of food that contain it.
What is Carrageenan?
Carrageenan is derived from seaweed and then processed through a standard procedure. Many people, therefore, consider it a natural food ingredient. However, carrageenan has many properties that make it useful. Before you purchase any organic form of food, you can check on the labels to identify the available ingredients. Moreover, if you want to understand this ingredient, then the best thing you need to do is defining the significance of each type of carrageenan.
Types of Carrageenan
Carrageenans are large and flexible molecules that form various structures depending on the properties they contain. However, the following are the three main commercial classes of carrageenan.
Iota-Carrageenan
The iota carrageenan is one of the common types of carrageenan that readily forms a stable gel when it is combined with calcium salts. The gel that is formed stays elastic in texture, and it is soluble in water. Also, it contains 30% of the ester sulfate content that it obtains from the seaweed. It is mainly used in the preparation of the nasal spray that is used to treat influenza.
Kappa Carrageenan
Kappa carrageenan is also another essential type of carrageenan you are recommended to know. It can only produce a stable gel when it is combined with potassium salts. On the other hand, it can form to brittle gel when it is combined with the locust bean. The gel contains 30% of the ester sulfate content. It is commonly used as a stabilizing agent more especially in the dairy products.
Lambda
Lambda carrageenan is well known for creamy sensation. It differs from other two common types of carrageenan because it is mostly applied to various products to obtain the high viscous property. Also, it has essential features that make it soluble in cold water. In fact, the carrageenan in ice cream is in the form of the lambda. This is because lambda is applied on the organic food products to obtain the creamy feel. Therefore, even though carrageenans differ in properties and chemical structure, they have the best health benefits that will help you.
