Tara gum

Tara gum is notable for FODMAPs and oligosaccharides. Clear on lactose, histamine, gluten, fructose, sorbitol, sucrose, tyramine, salicylate, nickel and oxalates.

Tara gum contains moderate levels of FODMAPs. Tara gum is a galactomannan from tara seed, and if you have learned that FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates this level will look wrong. It is not: the criterion that matters is whether gut bacteria ferment it, not how long the chain is. Inulin runs to sixty sugar units and is still a FODMAP. These gums ferment, which is exactly why they thicken in the gut and produce gas. The dependence on serving size comes from Gibson and Shepherd, who built this approach: what these carbohydrates do is deliver fermentable substrate and water to the end of the small intestine, so the quantity decides the distension. Their trial also found that restricting them GLOBALLY works where restricting them one at a time does not.

Tara gum contains only low levels of oligosaccharides. Tara gum is a galactomannan from a legume seed, so the chemistry is the same galactose-based one as the pulses - but it is used as a thickener at well under one percent. Chemistry puts it on this axis; dose keeps it low on it. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.