Tag Archives: read the label

What Is Maltodextrin?

Our modern processed foods can contain many ingredients that you may not know much about such as maltodextrin.

Uses for maltodextrinyogurt maltodextrin

It is a highly processed, plant-based substance that is usually made from corn but also can be made from rice, potato, wheat, or tapioca. To produce maltodextrin these starches are cooked at very high temperatures and then enzymes or acids are mixed in until they are broken down into a neutral-tasting powder.
 
It can be used to improve consistency, add bulk, texture, and extend shelf life but is mainly used as a thickener. This white powder is relatively tasteless (it may sometimes add a slightly sweet taste to food) and dissolves well in water.
 
Because it is so easily absorbed and does not impact flavor it is frequently used in a wide range of foods such as:
 
  • artificial sweeteners
  • baked goods
  • pasta
  • yogurt
  • beer
  • nutrition bars
  • cereals
  • low-fat and reduced-calorie items
  • meat substitutes
  • frozen meats
  • soups
  • condiments
  • sauces
  • spice mixes
  • salad dressings
  • chips
  • pie fillings
  • snack foods
  • energy/sport drinks
  • weight-training supplements.
 
It can also be found in lotions, hair care products, and livestock feed. As well as being used in insecticides and in pharmaceuticals.
 
As you can see it can be in a lot of items. Even though maltodextrin has virtually no nutrients it can adversely affect your health. Let’s look at some concerns with this additive.
 

Health impact of maltodextrin

spike blood sugar maltodextrin
Maltodextrin contains 4 calories per gram which is the same as sugar. Because this additive is so highly processed, it is very easy to digest and be absorbed by the body.
 
Maltodextrin has a high glycemic index of anywhere between 95 to 136 compared to 65 for table sugar. Therefore, it can spike blood sugar, which is not good for anyone but especially challenging for diabetics.
 
Gut health is another area of concern. Studies have shown that food additives can exert a negative effect on the gut related to the development and progression of colitis, colorectal cancer, and metabolic syndrome.
 
For maltodextrin, there is accumulating evidence suggesting it can impair gut homeostasis and promote intestinal pathologies. By affecting the intestinal microbiota, maltodextrin may even promote the growth of pathogens such as E. coli.
 
Maltodextrin may also cause other health issues including rashes or skin irritation, cramping, asthma, or difficulty breathing. A large portion of maltodextrin is made from corn so if you have a food allergy to corn that is, of course, a problem.
 
And lastly, most maltodextrin is not labeled as organic. This means that if it is made from corn there is a high potential for it to be genetically modified (GMO) which in turn means the presence of glyphosate. Keep in mind that most corn grown in the United States is the GMO “Roundup Ready” variety.
 

In conclusion

read food label maltodextrin
It is important to read labels - look for the word maltodextrin.  Not that this ingredient can also be labeled as corn syrup solids, modified corn starch, modified rice starch, modified tapioca starch, and modified wheat starch.
[expand title="Sources"]
 

Laudisi F, Stolfi C, Monteleone G. Impact of Food Additives on Gut Homeostasis. Nutrients. 2019 Oct 1;11(10):2334. doi:10.3390/nu11102334. PMID: 31581570;PMCID: PMC6835893.

Nickerson KP, McDonald C (2012) Crohn's Disease-Associated Adherent-Invasive Escherichia
coli Adhesion Is Enhanced by Exposure to the Ubiquitous Dietary

Polysaccharide Maltodextrin. PLOS ONE7(12):e52132.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052132

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Avoiding Chinese Food But Still Consuming MSG?

If you think MSG is only in Chinese food, think again. This toxic flavor enhancer is allowed by the FDA to be hidden under dozens of ingredient names and is in all sorts of processed foods, especially canned goods, soups and low-fat foods as well as restaurant foods, beverages, chewing gums, supplements and even in packaged meats!

The side effects of MSG can be widely varied, making it difficult to connect ingestion with side effects.

People who ingest even small amounts of MSG are experiencing these side effects:

  • Stomach cramps
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Migraine headaches
  • Heart palpitations
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Blurred vision
  • Joint pain
  • Sharp rise in blood pressure
  • Rapid drop in blood pressure
  • Stiffness in joints
  • Achiness all over body
  • Dizziness and loss of balance
  • Light headed
  • Depression
  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Swelling of the face
  • Pain or tightness in the chest
  • Shortness of breath
  • Numbing or burning sensation in mouth

What is MSG?

The amino acid called glutamic acid (aka glutamate) exists naturally in very small amounts in certain foods such as cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms and broccoli. In its natural and whole-food form, glutamate is important to the health of our brains, gut, immune system, kidneys and pancreas. The food industry chemically concentrates glutamate, freeing it from its whole food form, turning it into monosodium glutamate (MSG) and adding it to food to enhance the flavor. This allows us to consume glutamate at much higher levels than our bodies are designed to handle, resulting in serious brain issues that can even lead to death, particularly in athletes who typically have low levels of magnesium.

A recent scientific study done on rats has shown a direct link between MSG and female infertility. The study (from the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences) found that not only did those rats given MSG have a significant body weight increase, the MSG induced considerable structural changes in their ovaries such as degenerated follicles and congested blood vessels of the ovaries. These abnormalities usually lead to anovulatory infertility.

How is MSG hidden on the label?

MSG occurs naturally during the chemical processing of ingredients such as hydrolyzed protein, autolyzed yeast and soy extracts. While the FDA requires that these products be listed on the ingredient label, they DO NOT require the label to specify that they naturally contain MSG. Foods with any ingredient that naturally contains MSG cannot claim “No MSG” on their packaging, but they can say “No added MSG”, even if the MSG is naturally occurring. These are marketing tricks that you need to watch out for.

What can you do to avoid buying products with MSG?

Buy only whole, unrefined, unprocessed, organic food and stay away from food with the following ingredients on their label:

Additives that ALWAYS contain MSG
Additives that OFTEN contain MSG
Additives that MAY contain MSG
  • Monosodium glutamate
  • “Hydrolyzed” anything
  • “Hydrolyzed” any “protein”
  • Plant protein extract
  • Sodium caseinate
  • Calcium caseinate
  • Yeast extract
  • Autolyzed yeast
  • Yeast extract
  • Gelatin
  • Anything “protein”
  • Soy protein
  • Whey protein**
  • Soy sauce
  • Anything "enzymes”
  • Carrageenan
  • Bouillon and broth
  • Stock
  • Any “flavors” or “flavoring”
  • Natural flavor
  • “Malt” or “malted” anything
  • Maltodextrin
  • Seasoning and spices
  • Citric acid, citrate
  • Anything “ultra-pasteurized”
  • Brewer’s yeast
  • Pectin
  • Corn starch
  • Corn syrup
  • Modified food starch
  • Lipolyzed butter fat
  • Dextrose
  • Rice syrup
  • Brown rice syrup
  • Milk powder
  • Reduced fat milk
  • “Low fat” or “no fat”
  • Anything “enriched”
  • Anything “pasteurized”
  • Vinegar

** Non-hydrolyzed whey from organic grass-fed cows processed by low-temperature filtration or ion exchange is acceptable.

Hydrolyzed proteins can be found in bouillon products, dressings and dressing mix products, flavoring base and seasoning products, frozen food products, gravy mix products, prepared salad products, ready-to-eat meal products, sauce and marinade mix products, snack and snack mix products, soup/soup mix and dip/dip products, spread products and stuffing products.

Check out this slideshow of popular processed foods that contain MSG.

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Reading the label to avoid MSG is also important for personal care products, such as shampoo, cosmetics, etc. as they may contain hydrolyzed proteins which we have learned is a code name for MSG.

For those who are significantly sensitive to MSG, check with your pharmacist as some medications use MSG as a binder or filler. If your medication does have MSG, the only way to avoid it is to consider using a compounding pharmacy.

What can you do to avoid MSG at restaurants?

MSG use in restaurants is widespread. To be proactive, ask your server which menu items are MSG-free, and when ordering, request that no MSG be added to your meal. Assume that any soup made at a restaurant has MSG or at least high amounts of table salt (which contains aluminum and should be avoided at all costs).

The only place where you "know what’s really in your food", as Mira would say, is in your own kitchen.