Difference between revisions of "Carrageenan"
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* [[Eucheuma Cottonii]] | * [[Eucheuma Cottonii]] | ||
==Special Precautions of Carrageenan== | ==Special Precautions of Carrageenan== | ||
| − | * Carrageenan is safe for most people in food amounts. There is a chemically altered form of carrageenan that is available in France to treat peptic ulcers. This form might be UNSAFE because there's some evidence that it might cause cancer. Most of the research on edible carrageenan side effects has been performed using animals as test subjects. Studies performed on rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys suggest that degraded carrageenan, or poligeenan, may cause ulcers in the gastro-intestinal tract and/or gastro-intestinal cancer—ouch! Some studies also show that | + | * Carrageenan is safe for most people in food amounts. There is a chemically altered form of carrageenan that is available in France to treat peptic ulcers. This form might be UNSAFE because there's some evidence that it might cause cancer. Most of the research on edible carrageenan side effects has been performed using animals as test subjects. Studies performed on rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys suggest that degraded carrageenan, or poligeenan, may cause ulcers in the gastro-intestinal tract and/or gastro-intestinal cancer—ouch! Some studies also show that DEGRADED carrageenan led to colon cancer in lab animals. The International Agency for Research on Cancer thus recognizes degraded carrageenan as a possible human carcinogen, and some organizations are proposing that it be removed from the list of acceptable ingredients in organic food by the USDA. In short, the currently available research indicates that degraded carrageenan probably isn’t good for you—it’s best to avoid it if possible. It can be stated with some certainty, though, that infants should not be given any dosage or type of carrageenan. Most of the carrageenan in food products, though, is undegraded, and undegraded carrageenan is considered safe by the FDA. |
| − | considered safe by the FDA. | + | |
*If you consume it in large amounts, some carrageenan side effects include flatulence and bloating. This is due to fermentation by the intestinal microflora—nothing dangerous, just slightly unpleasant. | *If you consume it in large amounts, some carrageenan side effects include flatulence and bloating. This is due to fermentation by the intestinal microflora—nothing dangerous, just slightly unpleasant. | ||
*Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Carrageenan is safe in amounts found in food, but there's not enough information to know if it's safe in the larger amounts that are used as medicine. It’s best to stay on the safe side and avoid use in medicinal amounts. | *Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Carrageenan is safe in amounts found in food, but there's not enough information to know if it's safe in the larger amounts that are used as medicine. It’s best to stay on the safe side and avoid use in medicinal amounts. | ||
Revision as of 02:44, 24 November 2013
Other Names: Algas, Algue Rouge Marine, Carrageen, Carrageenin, Carragenano, Carragenina, Carragheenan, Carraghénane, Carraghénine, Chondrus crispus, Chondrus Extract, Euchema species, Extrait de Mousse d’Irlande, Galgarine, Gigartina chamissoi, Gigartina mamillosa, Gigartina skottsbergii, Irish Moss Algae, Irish Moss Extract, Mousse d'Irlande, Red Marine Algae.
Carrageenan is an indigestible polysaccharide that is extracted from red algae, and is most commonly used in food as a thickener or stabilizer. Carrageenan-containing seaweeds have been used for centuries in food preparations for their gelling properties, but the refined, isolated carrageenan found in modern processed foods has raised concerns in the health-conscious online community.
See also :
Special Precautions of Carrageenan
- Carrageenan is safe for most people in food amounts. There is a chemically altered form of carrageenan that is available in France to treat peptic ulcers. This form might be UNSAFE because there's some evidence that it might cause cancer. Most of the research on edible carrageenan side effects has been performed using animals as test subjects. Studies performed on rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys suggest that degraded carrageenan, or poligeenan, may cause ulcers in the gastro-intestinal tract and/or gastro-intestinal cancer—ouch! Some studies also show that DEGRADED carrageenan led to colon cancer in lab animals. The International Agency for Research on Cancer thus recognizes degraded carrageenan as a possible human carcinogen, and some organizations are proposing that it be removed from the list of acceptable ingredients in organic food by the USDA. In short, the currently available research indicates that degraded carrageenan probably isn’t good for you—it’s best to avoid it if possible. It can be stated with some certainty, though, that infants should not be given any dosage or type of carrageenan. Most of the carrageenan in food products, though, is undegraded, and undegraded carrageenan is considered safe by the FDA.
- If you consume it in large amounts, some carrageenan side effects include flatulence and bloating. This is due to fermentation by the intestinal microflora—nothing dangerous, just slightly unpleasant.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Carrageenan is safe in amounts found in food, but there's not enough information to know if it's safe in the larger amounts that are used as medicine. It’s best to stay on the safe side and avoid use in medicinal amounts.
- Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with CARRAGEENAN
- Medications taken by mouth (Oral drugs) interacts with CARRAGEENAN
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with CARRAGEENAN
Benefits and uses of Carrageenan are
Carrageenan contains chemicals that may decrease stomach and intestinal secretions. Large amounts of carrageenan seem to pull water into the intestine, and this may explain why it is tried as a laxative. Carrageenan also might decrease pain and swelling (inflammation).
Used for
- Cough.
- Bronchitis.
- Tuberculosis.
- Weight loss.
- Constipation.
- Peptic ulcers.
- Intestinal problems.
- Some people apply carrageenan directly to the skin for discomfort around the anus.
