Maltodextrin: What is it and how could it be impacting your health?
Well, we all hear of the horrors of GMO, sugar, aspartame etc - but we do not hear of the insidious poison maltodextrin. (Hint: there is no malt in maltodextrin)...
Maltodextrin is a GMO polysaccharide carbohydrate derived or synthesized by hydrolysis from corn, potatoes, wheat or rice. Sounds kind of okay, right? Not when 99% of corn is now GMO, potatoes are franken-versions of the real thing, wheat is dessicated with roundup and rice is not even a really healthy food. Unless we are talking wild rice. All other versions (unfortunately, including organic) are GMO mutants of the real thing. And then they extract maltodextrin to enhance flavour of, bulk out & thicken just about everything today (including most pre-made health foods):
Protein shakes
Stock cubes
Bread
Sauces
Lollies (sweets or candy)
Supplements
Cereal
Salad dressings
Soups (both packet and tinned)
Gravy mix
Yoghurt
Pasta
Frozen meals
Energy drinks
Vegan 'meat' alternatives
Beer
So what? I can already hear some people say. It's not SO bad. But what are the real dangers? And here is where it gets really concerning because if you stop and think about the possible effects, and what systems, what symptoms and what health issues we suffer from, we can all be negatively affected:
Rapidly increases blood sugar levels, insulin resistance - ie diabetes
Increase in bad gut bacteria
Increase in lactic acid and fatigue
Triggers Crohns, IBS, diverticulitis, coeliac disorders
Chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, hay fever and atherosclerosis
Auto immune disorders including fibromyalgia, lupus, eczema, psoriasis
Weightgain
Allergic reactions - Hives or itchy, weepy skin & mucous membranes (mouth, ears, nose).
Shortness of breath
Increased blood pressure
Bloating, flatulence & diarrhoea
I would estimate that almost 100% of my patients suffer a variety of the above. Could it just be a case of eliminating all forms of maltodextrin? Remember the tipping point of an over-filled cup; the old adage 'everything in moderation' is a lie and definitely does not count here - if you are suffering with any of these symptoms, chances are that even a trace of maltodextrin will tip it over the edge. Test yourself. Spend a few weeks eliminating all maltodextrin from your diet - see how you feel. Then spend a day eating the normal foods you would eat that contain maltodextrin. See how quickly these symptoms reappear with a vengeance. I know because my family have done this little experiment.
The end note here is that it maltodextrin is not found in nature, even though it is in so-called natural and even organic foods. If you have an issue that is not being resolved despite all efforts to improve your health, it could be maltodextrin. And back to my main mantra in choosing what foods to eat - read your labels.
Aside from supplementation there are additional homeopathics you may benefit from using - including for pyrrole support & behaviour as well as any other pre-existing symptoms.