2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Cellulose is a molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and is found in the cellular structure of almost all plant substances. This organic compound, which is considered to be the most abundant on earth, is even excreted by some bacteria.
Cellulose provides structure and strength to the cell walls of plants and provides fiber in our diets. Although some ruminants can absorb cellulose, humans cannot. Cellulose falls into the category of indigestible carbohydrates known as dietary fiber.
In recent years, cellulose has become a popular dietary supplement due to its unique chemical and physical properties when combined with water. Although cellulose can be found in most plant substances, the most economical sources of industrial cellulose are cotton and wood pulp.
How to use cellulose in food
As a dietary supplement
With awareness of fiber intake, cellulose has become one of the most popular dietary supplements. The addition of cellulose to your food allows you to increase the content of bulk and fiber without much impact on taste.
Calorie reducer
Cellulose provides a lot of volume or most of the food, but because it is indigestible to humans, it has no caloric value. For this reason, cellulose is becoming a popular filler in diets. Consumers who eat foods high in cellulose feel physically and psychologically well without consuming many calories.
Thickening / emulsification
The gelling action of cellulose, when combined with water, provides both thickening and stabilizing properties in the food to which it is added. The cellulose gel acts like an emulsion, suspending ingredients in solution and preventing the release of water. Cellulose is often added to thickening and emulsifying sauces.
The thickening ability of cellulose is also suitable for products such as ice cream or whipping. Cellulose allows the production of thick and dense foods without the use of much fat.
Anti-sticking
The ability of cellulose to absorb moisture makes it the best anti-caking ingredient. Grated cheeses, spice mixes and powdered drink mixes are just some of the many foods that benefit from cellulose as an anti-caking agent.
Forms of cellulose
Cellulose can be found in the lists of ingredients of the products, depending on the form used. Although cellulose has the same molecular structure regardless of the type (wood pulp, cotton or other plant material), the shape of the cellulose is determined by how the molecules are linked together.
Cellulose powder is the most widely used in food products and is the preferred form of application for gluing. Cellulose gum or cellulose gel that are hydrated forms of cellulose, are often used in sauces or other liquid products such as ice cream.
Recommended:
We Consume More And More Meat
According to a US study, over the past 50 years, humans have increased their consumption of meat and fat by 3 percent, which brings us closer to predators in the food chain. The study looked at how people's eating habits have changed over time.
Vanilla Is Becoming More Expensive, And Ice Cream Is Becoming More Expensive
Starting this summer, we can buy vanilla ice cream at higher prices due to the low yield of vanilla, which has significantly increased its price on international markets. Vanilla growers around the world warn that Madagascar, the world's largest exporter of vanilla, has registered the weakest crop in years.
We Eat Less And Less Native Cheese And More And More Gouda And Cheddar
The sale of white brined cheese in Bulgaria is much lower compared to the consumption in 2006, shows an analysis of the Institute of Agrarian Economics, quoted by the newspaper Trud. Consumption of yellow cheese in our country has also fallen.
We Buy And Eat More And More Food
It is as if only the food industry remained unaffected by the global crisis. You can't help but notice that as more and more small businesses or clothing stores and studios close their doors, the growth of food chains is becoming more tangible and large-scale.
We Are Paying More And More For Basic Food
With each passing day we pay more and more for basic foodstuffs. This is clear from the analysis of the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets. For example, the price of minced meat type "Stara Planina" has risen by 0.
