Agar-agar is derived from red algae which is a type of seaweed. Agar-agar has grown to become a favourite amongst home cooks and chefs alike due to its benefits. In fact, agar-agar’s popularity has led it to become a preferred substitute to gelatine in some dishes.
A mass favourite in Asian pantries, agar-agar is also known by the names of Japanese kanten, Japanese gelatine, China grass and more. This jelly-like substance obtained from algae is often used as a plant-based binding and thickening agent in a diverse range of commercial products.
In our books, agar-agar scores a definite A when it comes to it being a healthy food choice! Here’s why:
Agar-agar stimulates bowel movement
The gel-like substance found in agar-agar is a substance that bulks up in the gut. This stimulates the intestines by creating bowel movements. Experts believe this bulking effect makes it useful as a laxative and for weight loss.
It makes you feel full faster
Agar-agar is prone to making people feel full. This feeling may trigger some to stop eating earlier as compared to their usual capacity. So if you’re on a diet, you might want to consider eating some agar-agar based products every now and then.
It’s used in making dental impressions
Known as Agar hydrocolloid, it was the first successful elastic impression material to be used in the field of dentistry. Based on a study by Niha Naveed titled Use of Agar as a Dental Impression Material , agar-agar is a preferred choice for dental impressions because its physical state is able to be reversed, making it the ideal impression material.
Vegetarians love agar-agar
Agar-agar is a favourite amongst vegetarians because it’s a perfect substitute for gelatine. Gelatines are derived from non-vegetarian substances and it can be found in everyday foods such as marshmallows, gummy bears and other gelatine-based desserts like Panna Cotta.
If agar-agar is on your list for your upcoming grocery shopping trip, you can most probably find it in the natural foods’ section of your local supermarket. For those who are living overseas, you can purchase agar-agar from your local Asian groceries or online. It’s available in the form of flakes, powder and strands.
