Maltodextrin
Sugar
Potentially Harmful
May be Bioengineered
Details
Definition
Maltodextrin is a sweetener made from corn, rice, potato starch, or wheat.
AKAs
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Health Impact
Highly processed ingredient that has a high glycemic index (spikes blood sugar easily). High intake may lead to gastrointestinal discomfort due to gas production. Typically manufactured from GMO corn.
Excessive added sugar intake is associated with adverse health conditions, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory diseases. Excessive sugar consumption may trigger neuroadaptations in the brain that decouple eating behavior from caloric needs and leads to compulsive overeating.
The American Heart Association suggests an added-sugar limit of no more than 24 grams of sugar for most women and no more than 36 grams of sugar for most men each day.
Sources
Added Sugar in the Diet
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/added-sugar-in-the-diet/#:~:text=The%20AHA%20suggests%20an%20added,of%20sugar)%20for%20most%20men.Impact of sugar on the body, brain, and behavior
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29772560/Added Sugar in the Diet
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/added-sugar-in-the-diet/#:~:text=The%20AHA%20suggests%20an%20added,of%20sugar)%20for%20most%20men.Impact of sugar on the body, brain, and behavior
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29772560/Resistant Maltodextrin and Metabolic Syndrome: A Review
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07315724.2018.1523028