Agar-agar is widely used in the world, it acts as a thickener for the preparation of certain dishes, for example, jellied meat or jelly. Unlike gelatin, this product is of plant origin, the properties of which have not yet been fully studied.
In our country, you can find 2 grades of gelatin: the highest, with a snow-white tint and dark yellow, the second grade.
| Calories per 100 g, (kcal): | 301 |
| Protein in 100 g, (g): | 4.0 |
| Fats in 100 g, (g): | 0.0 |
| Carbohydrates in 100 g, (g): | 76.0 |
| Glycemic index: | fifteen |
What is agar-agar
The product is a mixture of polysaccharides and agaropectin . The final product is a powder, sometimes plates, which are obtained by extracting brown or red algae. Vegetable raw materials are mined in the Black and White Seas and in the Pacific Ocean.
After entering the water, agar-agar becomes a jelly with a dense structure.
The composition and caloric content of agar-agar, vitamins and minerals
Despite the gelatinous consistency, the calorie content of gelatin is 300 units, but no one consumes it in large quantities. It does not contain fats, very few carbohydrates, about 0.8 g and protein.
But the product has a high content of minerals: magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium and others. But most of all iodine – as much as 60%. Polysaccharides are also present, these are pyruvic and glucuronic acids, lactose and pentose.
An interesting fact is that with strong heating, from + 80 degrees, agar-agar turns into a liquid state.
What is useful agar-agar
The main benefit of agar-agar for the human body is the stimulation of the thyroid gland, due to the high content of iodine. But the benefits of the product do not end there. Calcium helps to strengthen the bones and spine, and iron stimulates all metabolic processes in the body.
Agar reduces the acidity of the stomach, stimulates its work and removes harmful substances from the body. It even allows you to lower your fat and glucose levels.
However, agar is hard to digest by the body, so dishes with its content are recommended for people with increased body weight. It is even sometimes used for medical purposes, as a laxative.
The benefits of agar-agar for women
For the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity, agar-agar is useful in that it helps to accelerate cell regeneration. It is involved in the formation of elastin and collagen in the body. And this means that a woman will be the owner of beautiful hair and skin.
Gelatin helps reduce the risk of developing cancer, in particular, avoiding breast cancer. Due to poor digestibility, it does not allow you to gain extra pounds. And fiber, swelling in the stomach, quickly saturates.
Agar-agar almost instantly absorbs fat from other products and immediately removes it from the body.
The benefits of agar-agar for men
Due to the poor study of this type of gelatin, special properties for the male body have not yet been identified. But in any case, it has a positive effect on the work of the stomach and helps not to gain extra pounds.
Agar-agar during pregnancy and breastfeeding
During childbearing, gelatin is useful for its high content of iodine, the ability to stimulate the hormonal system. It has a positive effect on the proper formation of the fetus.
It is acceptable to include this product during lactation. It will help you keep your figure slim and not gain extra pounds.
Can agar-agar be given to children
Products containing agar will be extremely useful for children. It’s no secret that they love sweets. And if they contain this gelatin, then it will not allow them to gain excess weight.
Is agar agar good for weight loss
Agar-agar is used as a means for weight loss. To do this, it is diluted in water and consumed hot before meals, 20 minutes before the meal.
To do this, gelatin is placed in water, brought to a boil and boiled over very low heat for about 2 minutes. Cool the resulting composition to about 45 degrees and consume.
agar agar for diabetes
Due to its ability to lower blood sugar levels, agar-agar is recommended for use in the presence of diabetes. In addition, it removes cholesterol, which is very important for the body with such a disease. It is used to make sweets.
What does agar-agar treat, how to take it for medicinal purposes
The main thing to remember is that it is impossible to consume more than 4 g of the product throughout the day. Agar-agar can cause diarrhea and provoke the appearance of gastric infectious diseases, as it disrupts the bacterial ratio in the intestine.
In addition to its simple use in culinary recipes and dilution in water, gelatin is used to treat a number of diseases:
- Haemorrhoids. Drink the composition before dinner, after diluting a teaspoon of gelatin in 50 ml of water. To do this, it is better to use dragees or emulsions.
- If there are inflammatory processes in the body, then gelatin is added to food in ½ coffee spoon.
- Use as a prophylactic against cancer. In this case, also add ½ coffee spoon to food.
By the way, the last method came to us from Japan. It is there that agar is extremely popular, and the number of women with breast cancer is very small.
What is made from agar-agar
The most common sweets made in industrial conditions on the basis of vegetable gelatin include: “Bird’s milk”, marshmallows, all kinds of jelly and a dessert called “Pavlova”. It is also used for cooking meat dishes, in particular, our traditional aspic. It can be found in canned food, mayonnaise, and even chewing gum. Often on its basis produce products for diabetics. In our country, agar-agar is labeled E406.
At home, it is put in sweets instead of gelatin of animal origin. And in medicine it is used as a laxative.
What is the difference between agar-agar and gelatin
The main distinguishing feature of gelatin and agar-agar is that the first is made from the connective tissues of animals, and the second from algae.
Vegetable gelatin hardens 3 times faster.
The use of agar-agar in cosmetology
Agar-agar is very useful for improving the quality of the skin. It has anti-inflammatory and nutritional properties. It is easy to make masks from it at home and always look 100%. It also helps to cope with puffiness on the face and blue under the eyes.
For a mask, literally 1-2 g of gelatin is heated in water, but better in green tea and applied to the face in a warm form. This mask will eliminate fine wrinkles and give velvety to the skin.
From agar-agar, you can prepare a moisturizer for the face. It will require components in a liquid state:
- agar-agar;
- olive oil;
- glycerol;
- distilled water.
Gelatin in the amount of 0.5% of the planned composition is prepared on fire. During boiling, add 10% of 2 components, 1.5 of the third and 100% of the fourth. After removing from heat, the composition is mixed well again, preferably with a mixer.
Agar-agar harm and contraindications
To date, no contraindications to the use of agar-agar have been established. It can harm the body in only one case – if you exceed the permissible dose per day, which is 4 g.
You should not combine vegetable gelatin and products containing vinegar or oxalic acid in one dose. This can cause intestinal upset.
Naturally, it is necessary to give preference to buying gelatin from trusted manufacturers that comply with GOSTs.
How to choose and store agar-agar
Japan is recognized as the world’s best producer of agar-agar. Marking from 600 to 900 means the gelling properties of the product, respectively, the higher this figure, the better. When dry, it can be stored for up to 3 years.
Cooked meals using vegetable gelatin are not recommended to be stored for more than one week in the refrigerator.
Jam, based on agar-agar, is also not subject to long-term storage – no more than 1 month.
Agar-agar is still an unusual gelatin for our country, however, it has a wide list of positive properties. But in order not to harm your health, remember that you should always follow the measure.