Who doesn't like sweets? Holidays are associated with a richly laid table, which, in turn, is not without dessert. You can buy a store cake
or sweets, but you can cook it yourself. Usually people try not to waste their energy on making sweets and go to the nearest supermarket. Not everyone will look at the composition of the purchased sweets or cookies, and there, under obscure names, components unknown to us, such as maltodextrin, are hidden. What is it, and why is it used in the production of not only sweets, but also baby food? People who care about their health will definitely want to figure it out.
Food supplement
This component looks like a powder of white or cream color, has hygroscopic properties, that is, it absorbs liquids very quickly. In its pure form it does not have pronounced taste and smell, although sometimes it is moderately sweet. It is obtained by processing starches of various origins, as a rule, corn or rice is used. It is widely used in the production of products such as baby food, all kinds of confectionery, rolls, as well as sports nutrition. True, in each individual case, the different properties that maltodextrin possesses are appreciated. It is immediately impossible to understand that this is a baking powder or a sugar substitute . For example, it gets into bakery products exclusively as a flour improver. Thanks to him, the buns do not spoil for a long time and
look lush and fresh even after a couple of days. Here is a list of tasks that this ingredient solves:
- Consistency improvement.
- Slowing down the oxidation of products particularly susceptible to this process.
- Loosening dough or prepared mixtures.
- In jelly products, it helps keep fit.
- Stimulation of intestinal microflora (in dietary supplements).
- Acceleration of solubility.
As you can see, its importance in food production is very great. However, the question of its harm or benefit is still open.
Act
So how does the maltodextrin component behave when it enters our body? What is this split starches, we have already found out, but how does it differ from the same glucose? From the biology course, we know that the main source of energy for us is glucose, it accumulates in the muscles and liver and is consumed as necessary. It enters our body with foods containing carbohydrates. Maltodextrin is obtained by dividing such a complex carbohydrate, such as starch, into smaller parts, dextrins. Thus, it turns out that this food supplement is nothing but glucose. The only difference is that the breakdown of the component occurs only in the small intestine, which ensures a long and uniform process of glucose entry into the blood.
Harm and Benefit
An inquisitive consumer will surely have a question when he sees maltodextrin in the composition of the product: “What is it? A harmful component or a harmless food supplement?” In fact, like any other product, it can be dangerous, but not for everyone. It is worth fearing for people with diabetes or with a tendency to it. The problem is that, being a close relative of molasses and starch, maltodextrin has a very high glycemic index, which characterizes the release of sugar into the blood. But there is another side to the coin: for healthy people, taking foods with its content will become a kind of diabetes prevention, since it will cause the production of insulin. It is very important to know from which initial product maltodextrin was produced. The composition of corn or rice is not a concern, but wheat contains gluten, which is intolerant to many children. But allergy sufferers have absolutely nothing to fear, this supplement is not able to cause allergies. In addition, maltodextrin has a very important property for a modern person, it cleanses the body of toxins, radionuclides and heavy metals, while acting like fiber, which is so lacking in our diet. Athletes appreciate his ability to restore energy after a long workout.
Where is used
You can often see maltodextrin in baby food, here it is needed to improve digestibility. Most often, it is found in various confectionery products, but there is nothing to fear, it is necessary to increase the shelf life and maintain the appropriate appearance. Maltodextrin has found application even in the manufacture of sausages, here it acts as a substitute for fat, which, in principle, is good. As a sugar substitute, maltodextrin is added to sauces and drinks. Its use is very extensive, while it is not dangerous for the body, so you can safely buy products that have it in their composition.
Sports nutrition
This nutritional supplement in sports nutrition occupies a special place, because it is the best source of long carbohydrates. It restores muscle glycogen stores, while ensuring uniform absorption of glucose. In a sports nutrition product such as a weight gainer, maltodextrin is especially important. Athletes' reviews also indicate the best dissolution and absorption of proteins with the combined use of this component, and protein is the main building material for muscles. Thus, we can conclude that maltodextrin is not only harmless, but in some situations even useful and beneficial.