Maltodextrin.. The hidden danger in many foods!

Due to the hectic pace of life, a large number of people now take their meals away from home or depend on canned food for the long term, especially with the great competition in the food market, the high prices of “organic” foods, as well as the marketing of these manufactured products, and the capacity of companies to imagine traditional non-food methods, in order to increase the level of sales, which is often done at the expense of public health.

Food labels!

Processed foods sold in stores always have an ingredient chart on their back label because countries with strict health systems require companies to put details of the materials used, but many shoppers don’t pay attention to the chart. ingredients, and also, some companies work to circumvent, and hide harmful or undesirable components, under different names, so that the inspected buyer does not alienate them.

Since the population is aware of the danger of the culture of “sugar”, manufacturers have tried to avoid mentioning its explicit name, or putting certain sugars in the “total carbohydrates” box without mentioning its name, or writing it in case it is an ingredient unknown to the buyer, and it will not cause him hesitation or aversion.

The common ingredient!

Among these commonly used ingredients is the substance “maltodextrin”, which is extracted from starch, be it corn, wheat or rice, then treated at high temperature, with chemicals, as well as enzymes , to finally come in the form of a soft powder , used as a flavor enhancer, it also gives a smooth texture to the materials, and it also acts to intensify the texture and increase its volume, therefore it is added as “toppings” in nutritional supplements because of its low cost!

You can find maltodextrin in a wide list of food products on the market, such as: processed foods, energy drinks, protein powder, sports mixes, nutritional supplements, candies, soft drinks, beer, protein and energy bars, etc. Thus, it enters into the composition of thousands of products that people use on a daily basis, without their knowledge, nor to what extent they are safe or harmful to health.

expression of sugar

The most dangerous sugar!

Although “maltodextrin” is classified in the food ingredient table as “total carbohydrates”, it is actually “sugar”!

Dr. Eric Berg, a health educator specializing in weight loss through nutritional and natural methods, considers “maltodextrin” to be “the worst ingredient on earth”, due to its hidden presence in many foods, and above all, according to him, its glycemic index is higher than glucose, which makes it capable of increasing blood sugar levels very quickly, thus infecting a person with “insulin resistance”!

The glycemic index of glucose is 100, while “maltodextrin” has an index between 105 and 185, which means that it is more dangerous than glucose sugar, which also doubles its harm by the speed of its absorption in the intestine.

Expressive

Lots of damage!

Dr. Berg believes that the presence of “maltodextrin” commonly found in many foods and beverages contributes to many people suffering from high blood sugar, and therefore many metabolic diseases, and to the failure of diet programs. diet that some may follow, as well as the depletion of vitamins and minerals in the body. , and reduce its absorption capacity.

Scott Boising, MD, a naturopath who practices complementary medicine, writes in a blog post that “Processed starches, such as maltodextrin and carboxymethylcellulose, are common fillers, but growing research shows they can feed pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract and be harmful to health.” And it increases inflammation.”

For her part, Catherine Marengo, nutritionist, published an article on HealthLine entitled “Is maltodextrin bad for me? While she reduced the risk of “maltodextrin” and considered it a good substitute for “sugar” and to give energy to athletes, despite her advice that the Dr does not agree with her. Eric Berg, Marengo, however, points out that studies have shown that “maltodextrin can alter the makeup of gut bacteria in ways that make you more susceptible to disease.” It “may also inhibit the growth of probiotics in the digestive tract, which is important for immune system function.”

The same study notes that “maltodextrin may increase the growth of bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which are linked to autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease.” Additionally, maltodextrin may “alter the secretion of intestinal mucus, which may increase the risk of colitis.”

So, if a person wants to maintain their general health and the strength of their immune system, or reduce excess fat in their body, they should avoid “maltodextrin”, carefully read the ingredients of the foods they buy, and ensure they are free of hidden sugar.