Recently, we were asked our opinion about carrageenan, an ingredient used as a thickener in many organic dairy products, dairy substitute products, natural and vegan products, as well as in many conventional food products. It appears there is some cause for concern with carrageenan, much of it based on the research of a UIC College of Medicine professor, Joanne Tobacman. While carrageenan does not appear to be absorbed systemically, there is concern that it may cause inflammation in the GI tract, and this inflammation may be linked to intestinal diseases, as well as to intestinal cancers. It’s the smaller carrageenan molecules, sometimes called degraded carrageenan, that seem to be the problem. While Tobacman’s studies do raise a number of red flags, the extent to which it is involved in carcinogenesis is apparently somewhat controversial. However, the indication that it may contribute to intestinal inflammation suggests that daily carrageenan intake is a poor choice for people with irritable bowel syndrome and related diseases.
Unfortunately,
if you are looking to limit your intake of carrageenan, there may be times when
you may have to weigh the pros and cons of trading one potentially unhealthy
ingredient for another. For instance,
most, if not all of the non-sugar, non-dairy ice creams available today seem to
have carrageenan in them. So if you’re
going to indulge in the occasional “treat,” you will probably have to choose
between a product that contains sugar, and one that contains carrageenan.
Obviously, anyone who finds they are sensitive to carrageenan should try to avoid it as best as possible. And even for those who do not have a sensitivity or intestinal problems, it may be better to choose carrageenan-free products, though occasional use is probably OK. We should also mention that the law doesn’t require that ingredients be listed on alcoholic beverages. Carrageenan is, in fact, commonly used to clarify beer, though you won’t see it on the label. It can also be found in other alcoholic beverages, though it generally doesn’t show up on the ingredient list.
If you’re interested in information about which products contain or don’t contain carrageenan, cornucopia.org provides a list of these products that can be found here.
For more information on The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, call (847) 230-9107 or visit BlockMD.com.
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