Glycerin, also known as glycerin or glycerol, is a sugar alcohol, with a backbone of 3 carbon atoms, 5 hydrogen atoms and 3 alcohol groups. The word glycerin comes from the Greek word glukeros, which means sweet. And indeed, glycerin, as a sugar alcohol, has a mild to moderately sweet taste. It is well absorbed in the small intestine and very little probably passes into the large intestine.
Because of this, it is not considered FODMAP (fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols). Although glycerin can come from vegetable, animal, or synthetic origins, the majority of glycerin used in the nutraceutical industry comes from a plant source, in fact from vegetable oils, usually as a byproduct of the soap and biodiesel manufacturing process. It usually comes from palm oil, coconut oil, soy oil or corn oil.
Glycerin can be used as a thickener, humectant (humectant), solvent or sweetener, but it also has emulsifying properties and the ability to keep things in suspension in a liquid. This property, along with its sweetness, lends itself well to making liquid herbal extractions.
Glycerin used as a food additive is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. WishGarden uses glycerin in all of our tinctures, which improves the taste, allows us to lower our overall residual alcohol, and keeps all those beneficial compounds nicely together so they can be delivered to the body.
Sustainable glycerin in our products
Here at WishGarden Herbs we use sustainably sourced, palm oil-based vegetable glycerin from a producer in South America. Unfortunately, most conventional palm oil production involves significant environmental destruction, species habitat loss and social injustice. We work with a palm oil company that is a member of the RSPO and Rainforest Alliance certified organization.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a non-profit organization that unites stakeholders from 7 parts of the palm industry. The RSPO has developed a set of environmental and social criteria that companies must meet to produce certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). If properly applied, these criteria can help minimize the negative impact of palm oil cultivation on the environment and communities in palm oil producing regions.
The RSPO has more than 4,000 members worldwide representing links throughout the palm oil supply chain. They have committed to produce, source and/or use sustainable palm oil that is certified by the RSPO.
The company we source our palm glycerin from supports their farmers and their communities, ensuring fair wages and fair trade. They also have high standards of environmental protection, planting only on previously deforested land and never clearing land for planting, and they maintain a zero carbon footprint.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
Read further