Guar / Cluster bean
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba
Other names: guar, cluster bean, guvar, guar gum (galactomannan)
Edible plantPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Low when hydrated and taken with adequate fluid. Mechanical obstruction hazard: dry/high-viscosity guar gum can swell 10-20x and has caused oesophageal and small-bowel obstruction, especially in compressed diet-pill tablets or if swallowed dry. Flatulence/bloating common early on.
Contraindications: Swallowing difficulty (dysphagia), oesophageal stricture or GI obstruction/stenosis, prior GI surgery with narrowing. Take with plenty of water; do not take dry or as compressed tablets without adequate fluid.
Interactions: May delay/reduce absorption of oral drugs (e.g. metformin, digoxin, some antibiotics, oral contraceptives) - separate dosing. May reduce insulin/oral-hypoglycaemic requirement (monitor blood sugar). Can lower absorption of co-ingested minerals.
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
powder · seed (guar gum)
Part used: seed (guar gum)
Traditional use: blunt post-meal glucose, lower LDL/total cholesterol, normalize bowel function
Proposed mechanism: viscous soluble galactomannan fibre slows gastric emptying and nutrient absorption
Dosage note (descriptive only): take with ample water
food · pods
Part used: pods
Traditional use: edible vegetable (cluster bean)(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
Proposed mechanism: dietary fibre, protein
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: young pods eaten cooked as a vegetable (cluster bean / guar phali); mature seeds yield the gum (food additive E412); cooked pods are a common South-Asian food
Toxic lookalike warning
no major toxic lookalike for the cultivated crop
Nutritional notes
pods: dietary fibre, protein, vitamins/minerals. Guar gum: soluble dietary fibre / prebiotic; functional-food fibre; negligible digestible calories from the gum
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- RxList - Guar Gum: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions
- WebMD - Guar Gum