Because of the fast-paced lifestyle, large numbers of people are now eating their meals outside the home, or relying on long-term canned food, 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 ability of companies to devise non-food methods. Traditional, in order to raise the level of sales, which often comes at the expense of public health.
Food labels!
Processed food sold in stores always has a table of ingredients on its label on the back, as countries with strict health systems force companies to put details of the materials used, but many shoppers do not pay attention to the ingredients table, and also, some companies work To circumvent, and hide harmful or unwanted components, under different names, so that the inspected buyer does not alienate them.
With people’s awareness of the danger of “sugar” growing, manufacturers worked to avoid mentioning its explicit name, or to put some sugars in the “total carbohydrates” box without mentioning its name, or to write it in case it is an unfamiliar ingredient to the buyer, and it will not cause him hesitation or aversion to it.
The common ingredient!
Among these commonly used ingredients is the substance “maltodextrin”, which is extracted from starch, whether corn, wheat or rice, and then processed at high temperatures, with chemicals, as well as enzymes, to finally be in the form of a soft powder, used as a taste enhancer, It also gives a smooth texture to the materials, and it also works to intensify the texture and increase its volume, so it is added as “fillings” in nutritional supplements because of its cheap cost!
You can find maltodextrin in a wide list of food products in the market, such as: processed food, energy drinks, protein powder, sports mixes, nutritional supplements, sweets, soft drinks, beer, protein and energy bars, and so on. So, it is included in the composition of thousands of products that people use on a daily basis, without their knowledge of them, or the extent to which they are safe or harmful to health.
Expression of sugar
The most dangerous sugar!
Although “maltodextrin” is classified in the food ingredients table as “total carbohydrates”, it is, in fact, “sugar”!
Dr. Eric Berg, a health educator who specializes in losing weight through nutritional and natural methods, considers that “maltodextrin” is “the worst ingredient on earth”, due to its hidden presence in many foods, and most importantly, in his view, its glycemic index is higher than glucose, which makes it It is able to raise the blood sugar rate 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
Numerous 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 levels, and thus many metabolic diseases, and the failure of diet programs 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 carboxymethyl cellulose, are common fillers, yet increasing research shows that they may feed pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract and be harmful to health.” And it increases inflammation.”
For her part, Catherine Marengo, a nutritionist, published an article on HealthLine entitled “Is maltodextrin bad for me?” Although she reduced the risk of “maltodextrin” and considered it a good substitute for “sugar” and to give athletes energy, despite her advice that Dr. does not agree with her. Eric Berg, Marengo, however, points out that studies have found that “maltodextrin can alter the composition of gut bacteria in a way that makes you more susceptible to disease.” It also “can inhibit the growth of probiotics in the digestive tract, which is important for immune system function.”
The same study notes that “maltodextrin can increase the growth of bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which are linked to autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease.” In addition, maltodextrin can “impair intestinal mucus secretion, which may increase the risk of colitis.”
Hence, if a person wants to maintain his general health and the strength of his immune system, or to reduce excess fat in his body, he must avoid “maltodextrin”, read carefully the ingredients of the foods he buys, and make sure that they are free of hidden sugar.
