Agar plates are used as culture medium.
Agar is a gelatinous substance obtained from certain algae . The term, according to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), is synonymous with agaragar or agar-agar .
It is a polysaccharide composed of galactose , a simple sugar . When agar is dissolved in water at high temperature and then cooled, it takes on its gelatin-like consistency .
This substance is used in various contexts. Agar can be used to thicken gastronomic preparations and to clarify beer, for example.
Agar plates , meanwhile, are plates that contain agar and certain nutrients to function, in the field of microbiology, as a culture medium for fungi, bacteria and even small plants . In certain cases, antibiotics are added.
Medicinal properties of agar
In China and Japan , agar has been used since ancient times to treat various body disorders since its medicinal properties are worth highlighting; For example, by combining it with other substances it is possible to treat excess cholesterol, constipation (since it is a natural laxative), obesity and even purify the digestive system through alkalization and blood cleansing.
The secret behind the numerous healing properties of agar lies in its richness in the minerals magnesium, calcium , iodine and potassium , in addition to its high content of prebiotic fiber . Although it is not widely used in home cooking , it is a very beneficial food that can be consumed in various ways, such as in capsules or as an ingredient to prepare different dishes; Vegans , to mention one case, use it to thicken their meals, in cases in which other people would use egg white.
Agar can be used to thicken beer.
Its use to treat digestive disorders
The high fiber content of agaragar, as well as the gelatin that can be obtained from it, is ideal for dealing with a large number of digestive problems. In the specific case of constipation, it promotes intestinal evacuation, and it is recommended to use it in powder form: just dilute a tablespoon in two cups of cold water so that it thickens and turns into gelatin.
On the other hand, agar is also recommended to treat hemorrhoids, since its properties include hydration of the fecal bolus, improvement of intestinal flora and stimulation of peristalsis (intestinal movement ). Together, these actions promote evacuation, something that accelerates the healing of hemorrhoids.
Since agar has almost no calories, it is ideal for treating obesity and other metabolic problems, and that is why many nutritionists recommend its inclusion in weight loss diets . Its fibers, on the other hand, collaborate with the cleaning of fat from the body, since they drag bile salts and cholesterol into the intestine . Diarrhea, colitis and gastroenteritis, among other intestinal diseases, can also be combated with the help of agar.
Hagar as a name
In the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh , within the district called Shajapur , there is a city called Agar . Located just over two hundred kilometers away from Bhopal , the state capital, Agar has nearly 40,000 inhabitants.
According to the Bible , on the other hand, Hagar was a slave who was a partner of Abraham , with whom she had a son: Ishmael . Abraham 's wife, Sarah , expelled Hagar from her land and so this woman had to wander in the desert.
It is important to mention that, since Sarah seemed barren, Abraham had offspring with his servant. However, after the birth of Ishmael , Abraham and Sarah finally managed to conceive Isaac , according to certain biblical traditions .