Are there any health benefits of maltodextrin?

You may have seen maltodextrin as an ingredient in packaged foods, such as yogurt, candy, instant pudding, artificial sweeteners / sugar, and others. Yes, the benefits of maltodextrin are numerous in food preparation, generally as a thickener to increase food volume and as a preservative. But, do you really know what maltodextrin is?

What is maltodextrin?

Maltodextrin can be found in the form of a white powder like flour but is finer. This white powder is made from corn flour, rice, potato starch, or wheat. First, the flour is cooked with water, and then added with acids or enzymes that will break down the flour. Next, the maltodextrin is filtered and dried.

As a result, a white, water-soluble powder is formed that has a neutral taste. Maltodextrin has a slightly sweet taste, but has less sugar content than corn syrup. Maltodextrin contains less than 20% sugar.

What are the benefits of maltodextrin?

The benefits of maltodextrin seem to be more for food products than for health. Maltodextrin is used to improve food texture and as a preservative. Not only that, maltodextrin can also be a thickener, a binding agent, and to improve the taste of food. When combined with artificial sweeteners, maltodextrin is useful for sweetening food products, such as canned fruit and powdered drinks.

Maltodextrin is also widely added in sports drinks as a source of carbohydrates. Because they are easily digested and absorbed by the body, maltodextrin can help athletes maintain energy for longer and aid recovery after training.

Are maltodextrins beneficial or risky for health?

Maltodextrin contains sugar or carbohydrates, so they can be your source of energy. One teaspoon of maltodextrin contains 12 calories, 3.8 grams of carbohydrates. It should be noted that maltodextrins contain almost no vitamins and minerals so that too frequent consumption of maltodextrin is not good for health because it can cause weight gain and insufficient vitamin and mineral needs.

Maltodextrin has a high glycemic index

Maltodextrin has a higher glycemic index than sugar, around 106-136. This causes maltodextrin can increase blood sugar levels very quickly so that consuming large amounts of maltodextrin can be dangerous for those of you who have diabetes or those of you who have diabetes descent. Foods with a high glycemic index can also increase the risk of obesity and heart disease.

Maltodextrin can harm gut health

A study published in the journal Plos One in 2012 found that maltodextrin can change the composition of gut bacteria, making you more susceptible to disease.

Consumption of large amounts of maltodextrin can suppress the growth of good bacteria (probiotics) in the intestines and increase the growth of bad bacteria, such as E. coli. In fact, probiotics in the gut can boost the immune system. According to several studies, various types of bacteria in the gut are associated with the immune system, regulation of body weight, blood sugar, and food metabolism.

Maltodextrin has also been linked to several health problems

Maltodextrin can cause certain people to experience health problems after consuming it, although there are no studies that link this. Some of the disorders that can arise after taking maltodextrin are stomach pain, flatulence, diarrhea, vomiting, rashes, and asthma.

If you experience this disorder after eating foods containing maltodextrin, you should not continue. You should probably avoid it.