Maltodextrin is a refined starchy carbohydrate which is highly processed and used as a filler in a wide range of processed foods. It’s a polysaccharide meaning many sugars have been artificially bonded together. It is made by a process that uses acid and enzymes to break down the starches into small sugar molecules and then it’s processed into a fine powder.
So what’s the problem with maltodextrin?
It is exceptionally high on the glycemic index, much higher than sugar and pure glucose and will rapidly raise your blood sugar levels. It is classed as a starch and not a sugar even though it spikes your blood sugar levels more than any other type of sugar.
Maltodextrin is actually a common insecticide and often appears as corn starch made from GMO corn which is contaminated with glyphosate which has been linked to numerous health conditions. It can also be made from wheat and contain gluten, which as we already know, is a protein that humans struggle to digest and can cause gut irritation, leaky gut and inflammation.
Because of loopholes, food manufacturers can use maltodextrin as a sweetener without it having to be listed as a sugar on nutrition labels and because of this its often found in a lot of weight loss products. This means they can claim the product is sugar free even though it will significantly impact your blood sugar levels. This can be very misleading to the general public and can be hugely detrimental to health especially for those with diabetes or pre diabetes. Assessing the healthiness of labels can be very confusing, maltodextrin is a prime example of this and it’s not included in the definition of sugar in nutrition labelling at all.
Have a look through your cupboards, what have you got that contains this sneaky health saboteur?
