FitSugar

Label Able: Xanthan Gum

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

I'm a label reader and I like to know what I am putting in my body. I have been seeing "xanthan gum" listed as an ingredient in many different types of food, like this Annie's salad dressing. I finally decided to find out what it is exactly.

To find out read more

Xanthan gum is made by fermenting corn sugar with the Xanthomonas campestris bacterium (that's where it gets its name). This bacteria is the same one that causes black spots to form on broccoli or cauliflower. It's added to products as an emulsifier to help ingredients blend more effectively, and it's also used as a thickener. Xanthan gum is usually found in salad dressings and sauces, but you may also see it in frozen foods to prevent ice crystals from forming. It's also added to fat free foods to give them a smoother consistency. Some toothpastes contain this additive, and xanthan gum is also used in gluten-free baked goods to give the dough a sticky consistency.

Since it's made from corn sugar and added to foods in small amounts, it's not unhealthy for us. The only people who need to watch out are those who have a corn allergy.

Food Review: Earth Balance Cream Cheese Spread

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0800

When it comes to buttering my bread or baking, I'm a huge fan of Earth Balance natural margarine. It's cholesterol free, low in saturated fat, and dairy free. I just discovered that Earth Balance makes Cream Cheese. Yes it's made with milk, so it's not some vegan alternative, but it's made with rBST-free milk and it's supposed to be a healthier version of mainstream cream cheese.

To see how the two types of cream cheeses compare read more.

Taste-wise, there isn't much difference at all. The Earth Balance tastes slightly sweet, and has a thick, creamy texture that spread exactly like regular cream cheese. Nutritionally, there's a big difference. The Earth Balance Cream Cheese has less calories, less fat, less cholesterol, and more protein. It does contain a bit more sodium and sugars, but not a significant amount. I'm definitely making the switch. I wonder how this will work in a cheesecake recipe?

Serving Size	Earth Balance cream Cheese (2 tbsp / 30 g)	Philadelphia Cream Cheese (2 tbsp / 30 g)
Calories	80	107
Total Fat	6 g	10.7 g
Saturated Fat	3 g	6.4 g
Cholesterol	15 mg	32 mg
Sodium	105 mg	96 mg
Carbs	2 g	1.1 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sugars	2 g	1.1 g
Protein	3 g	2.1 g
Ingredients	Pasteurized cultured skim milk and cream, natural oil blend (palm fruit, soybean and canola oils), whey protein, milk proteins, less than 2% of salt, natural flavor, natural plant sterols, xanthan, locust bean and guar gums.	Pasteurized nonfat milk and milkfat, whey protein concentrate, cheese culture, salt, whey, stabilizers (xanthan gum and/or carob bean and/or guar gums), sorbic acid as a preservative, vitamin A palmitate.

Are You Label Able?

FitSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:50:00 -0700

I'm a religious label reader, and when I come across something I've never heard of (or can't pronounce), I investigate to find out whether or not it's healthy. If you're curious about ingredients such as maltodextrin and xanthan gum, then keep reading.

Source

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Food Review: Hempmilk

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If you're trying to watch your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, then you may be into milk alternatives. Soy milk and rice milk have been around for a while, and when I went to pick some up, I saw a new kind on the shelf. Living Harvest Hempmilk. I was curious to try it since hemp seeds seem to be the latest health buzz because the seeds are high in protein and contain a well-balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. These are the healthy fats our bodies need to sustain heart health, mental acuity, strong immune system, and glowing skin. This Hempmilk is soy free, cholesterol free, vegan, gluten free, and contains no cane sugar.

OK, so this Hempmilk sounds healthy, but to see how it compares to other dairy alternatives and what I think about the taste, read more.

Here's the nutritional info of 1 cup of vanilla-flavored dairy alternative milk.


Calories	130	160	130
Total Fat	3g	3g	2.5g
Saturated Fat	.5g	.5g	0g
Omega-3	900mg	220mg	-
Omega-6	2800mg	550mg	-
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg	0mg
Sodium	120mg	90mg	105mg
Carbs	20g	25g	27g
Fiber	1g	less than 1g	0g
Sugars	18g	16g	12g
Protein	4g	7g	1g
Ingredients	Filtered Water, Whole Hemp Nut (shelled hemp seed), Brown Rice Syrup, Natural Vanilla with Other Natural Flavors, Disodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Phosphate, Vitamin A, Palmitate, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B12, Riboflavin.	Purified Water, Organic Soybeans, Naturally Malted Organic Wheat and Barley Extract, Vanilla Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Kombu Seaweed, Sea Salt	Filtered Water, Brown Rice (partially milled), Expeller Pressed High Oleic Safflower Oil, Natural Vanilla Flavor With Other Natural Flavors, Sea Salt.

As you can see, the Hempmilk has an outstanding amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It doesn't have as much protein as the soy milk, but it definitely has more than the rice milk.

As for taste? When I poured it into the glass, I've got to be honest - it was thicker than I was expecting, so I was a little nervous to try it. When I took a sip, the thickness actually complemented the vanilla flavor, and reminded me of a healthy vanilla milkshake. It was very similar to the consistency of soy milk, and it went down smooth without the grainy or bitter aftertaste that some milk alternatives have. Even though it's slightly higher in sodium and sugars than the soy and rice milk, I'd definitely buy this again.