Xanthan gum, pronounced like "zanthan gum," is a natural food additive produced through the fermentation of certain sugars mixed with bacteria. It can be found in desserts, convenience foods, gravies, dairy products and low-calorie foods. Xanthan gum can replace the gluten in yeast breads and other baked goods, and it can add depth to your salad dressing.

Xanthan gum is an all-natural product that can add emulsive components to salad dressing, making it smoother, and keeping particles of herbs and spices evenly distributed while helping the dressing to cling well to the salad. Smooth body and viscosity are also positive results of adding xanthan gum to your home recipe.

Depending on your dressing's acidity and other factors, the appropriate amount should range between .1 percent and .5 percent, meaning a little xanthan gum goes a long way, according to Editor-in-Chief Lynn A. Kuntz's article on the website Food Product Design. If you add too much, the consistency of your salad dressing will be stringy, gloppy, slippery or slick. One way bakers at Bob's Red Mill suggest measuring xanthan gum is to use 1/2 teaspoon for every 1 cup of liquid when making dressings.

Nutritionally, xanthan gum is composed of carbohydrates and contains 7 grams of fiber per tablespoon. This high amount of fiber can cause bloating and flatulence, which you can generally avoid by consuming very small amounts until your system adjusts to the fiber increase. Drinking plenty of water may also help reduce problems. A diet high in fiber may aid in the absorption of minerals like calcium and iron, help manage cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar, improve your immune system and maintain a good digestive environment, according to expert on cardiovascular and brain physiology Dr. Paul Gross.

A basic salad dressing recipe recommended by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics involves mixing 1 part vinegar with 2 parts oil, then adding salt and pepper. To reduce fat, add water and lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange juice or a combination of water and juices until you reach 1 cup of dressing. Add 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum and whisk until blended. Without xanthan gum, much of the salt and pepper would remain at the bottom no matter how much mixing you did. For dressing variations, experiment with different types of vinegar, oils and herbs.