Gum arabic is a naturally occurring resin that is harvested from the Acacia Senegal tree in Kenya.
Acacia gum contains water-soluble dietary fibers that are not only good fiber for your diet but also helpful in keeping your cholesterol under control. One study showed that taking 15 grams of acacia gum daily helped manage the concentration of plasma cholesterols in blood. This fiber works as a prebiotic in the human digestive system and can significantly increase levels of good bacteria in the gut.
Gum arabic is commonly added to icings, creams, and sauces to give them a creamy consistency, used in pastries and candies to improve their texture, and as a stabilizer in beverages and ice creams to prevent crystallization. Additionally, it acts as an emulsifying agent to mix ingredients like oil and water homogeneously.