Can Guar Gum Help Lower Cholesterol?

Guar gum, an ingredient used in Energy Pods, has been found to help reduce total cholesterol levels in the body, according to a double-blind crossover study. Guar gum is a soluble fiber that is derived from the guar bean, and it has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels by preventing its absorption in the body.

In the study(1), 12 obese hypercholesterolaemic patients were given 15g of guar gum granules daily for three months. The results showed that serum total cholesterol levels decreased in eight out of the ten patients who completed the study, with a mean cholesterol level of 8.5 mmol/l after the guar gum period compared to 8.9 mmol/l after the placebo period. The study also found that guar gum did not have any significant impact on body weight or HDL-cholesterol levels.

So how does guar gum work to lower cholesterol? The soluble fiber in guar gum binds with cholesterol in the intestines, preventing it from being absorbed into the bloodstream. This means that the cholesterol is excreted from the body instead of being stored, leading to a decrease in total cholesterol levels.

Energy Pods use up to 0.3g of guar gum as an ingredient to enhance the texture of the product, but this study shows that it may also have the added benefit of helping to reduce cholesterol levels. However, it is important to note that the study was conducted on a small sample size and further research is needed to confirm these findings.