There is an ingredient that goes unnoticed by most of us, though found in almost every kind of sports drink and gluten-free product. It is Maltodextrin -- despite advertising to the contrary safe for human consumption on their/its packaging without further qualification beyond all the hype, the hard truth is this: although Maltodextrin has been given clean bills of health and is "natural," that doesn't mean there aren't some very real complications to deal with it.
But what makes Maltodextrin so fearful? Firstly, it's highly processed. By a series of processing stages involving extensive chemical modification and the removal of all nutrients, from starches like corn, rice or potato some Maltodextrin is obtained.
What's left after this process is a refined sugar -like substance with a high glycemic index (GI), meaning that when entering your body through food or drink it will cause blood sugar to jump almost immediately? This can be especially bad for people who have diabetes and insulin resistance (problems using their own naturally occurring insulin). General blood sugar spikes over time can make you gain weight, cause inflammation in addition to other health issues.
The second hidden danger of Maltodextrin is that it may have an impact on your gut microbiome. There is some emerging research suggesting that it may disturb the delicate equilibrium between good and harmful bacteria residing in our digestive tract. If something goes wrong with the friendly flora down there-via a population swing toward pathogenic species of microbes or something else dire to their natural environment-an unhealthy relationship quickly develops.
Yet unlike dietary fibers which people need to maintain life-sustaining functions, Maltodextrin is precisely the opposite: it is a filler body that can make nothing from. But doesn't stop there--Maltodextrin is also widely used in processed foods, including gluten-free and sugar-free options that may be less healthy but those aiming to eat healthily will find it particularly tough going indeed on the one hand, maltodextrin is typically unsigned.
You think that you're making sensible food choices. But if the truth be told, in the long run, eating such a substance can do nothing good for your health. After you've completed this book, you will understand the roots of maltodextrin, its various applications, and the scientific evidence behind why it's just not good for your health. Most importantly, we shall present ways that you can use to find maltodextrin within your diet and instead opt for more healthy alternatives. By the end of it, you'll have knowledge to guard your health and can make sound decisions for your body in the long run.