What is maltodextrin and how is maltodextrin made?
Maltodextrin is made from corn, rice, potato, or wheat starch. During the processing, the starch is hydrolyzed/enzymatically to produce a white powder with a water-soluble and neutral taste.
Maltodextrin is very similar to corn syrup powder, the only difference is their sugar content. Both undergo hydrolysis, a chemical process that involves adding water to further aid decomposition. After hydrolysis, the solid sugar content of corn syrup is at least 20%, while the sugar content of maltodextrin is less than 20%.
Is maltodextrin safe and healthy?
Most countries have recognized maltodextrin as a safe food additive. Maltodextrin is generally considered to be part of the carbohydrates that the human body can consume.
Maltodextrin has a high glycemic index (GI), which means that it causes blood sugar to rise. It is safe to consume a small amount, but diabetic patients should be extra careful.
However, maltodextrin is usually only present in small amounts in food. It will not have a major impact on your overall carbohydrate intake and glycemic index.
Why do we need to add maltodextrin to food?
Maltodextrin is commonly used as a thickener or filler to increase the volume of processed foods. It is also a preservative and can extend the shelf life of packaged food.
It is cheap and easy to produce, so it can be used to thicken instant pudding and gelatin, sauces, and salad dressings. It can also be used in combination with artificial sweeteners to sweeten products such as canned fruits, desserts, and beverage powders.
It is even used as a thickener in personal care products such as lotions and hair care products.
Who is not suitable to consume maltodextrin?
Maltodextrin has a high gastrointestinal digestibility rate, which may lead to elevated blood sugar levels, especially when ingested in large amounts.
Therefore, if you have diabetes or insulin resistance, you may want to avoid or limit its use. If you are prone to diabetes, you should also avoid it.
Why choose ORGANICWAY’s maltodextrin?
Our organic maltodextrin is produced and stored in strict accordance with the organic standards of the European Union and USDA. Its raw material is organic corn starch. It’s Non-GMO and Gluten-free. By the way, any maltodextrin is gluten-free.