Maltodextrin- Dangers of this Hidden Ingredient

Maltodextrin has become one of the most popular thickening agents on the market.

You can find it (along with many other toxic fillers), in everything from canned coconut milk, so-called ‘almond milk,’ yogurts, soups, creamer substitutes, sauces, salad dressings, protein bars/protein drinks, even cereals- basically anything and everything that is not produce or protein.

Most people think nothing of it when they read it on a label- but for those struggling with digestive issues it is very important to become aware of this ingredient.

Before we dive into how this filler can affect the GI, let’s explore any potential benefits of Maltodextrin.

Because it is considered a complex carbohydrate and is absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream, passing very quickly through GI tract (umm….diarrhea?), it does have something to offer performance athletes. If you are burning through fuel due to long durations of physical exercise, perhaps maltodextrin could benefit you- assuming your gut was in complete integrity.

It also has very low osmolality (doesn’t absorb much water), so for athletes it promises energy in the absence of dehydration. Yes, athletes may indeed be getting a slight ‘high’ from maltodextrin in sports energy drinks- but at what cost?

The potential crash from this ingredient is just as real as the crash from sugar. If you are not an athlete and not using this as a source for enhanced performance, the crash can be extreme. Not to mention that if it’s really not being used for anything, it’s being stored as fat…..just like plain sugar.

OK, so now onto the effects of such an ingredient on GI health.

Digestive Warriors always need to know the properties and effects of these sneaky little ingredients as we are always on top of our game when it comes to what we put in our bodies. We remain aware of everything as our gut linings heal……we have no choice.

Dr. Cristine McDonald, PHD researcher in Cleveland’s Department of Pathobiology at the Lenser Research Institute has made some pretty bold statements on Maltodextrin. And she should- she’s studied it quite extensively in relationship to gut health. She even comments in regards to the increase in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, stating “It’s happened too quickly to be a genetic change.” Needless to say, this is a person that believes that the modern day diet is full of potential ‘triggers’ contributing to inflammatory responses.

What Dr. McDonald has discovered is that maltodextrin alters intestinal bacteria, making it “stickier.” For cases of IBD and IBS where bacterium is already sticking more to the epithelial layer, this is not a good thing.

Furthermore, it actually INCREASES the amount of bacteria on the surface of the mucosal lining.

This can be catastrophic for people working on decreasing their pathogenic load in the gut to heal! If this isn’t enough, maltodextrin also decreases antibacterial defenses, creating the perfect environment for gut infections to thrive.

There are very popular protein drinks on the market that individuals are consuming when in need of bowel rest that contain this ingredient. I strongly suggest monitoring your gut very closely if experimenting with a product that contains this ingredient- especially longterm. For some it may not be detrimental to their microbiome. For others, it could wreak havoc. I personally develop symptoms from even a small amount of maltodextrin.

ONLY YOU will know how this ingredient impacts you.

As always, do your own research. Seek your own education, be your own warrior for health. And don’t forget to read ingredients!

Check out this info on Maltodextrin:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4615306/