PopSugar

What Exactly Is Maltodextrin?

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0700

You know I love my Cascadian Farm Oats & Honey Granola. I trust this company, and know the food is organic, but what's with the maltodextrin in the list of ingredients? It doesn't sound very natural, so what is it?

If you're curious to know then read more

Maltodextrin is an easily digestible carbohydrate made from rice, corn, or potato starch. It's a white powder used in a whole array of products from canned fruits to granola, as a thickener or a filler since it's fairly inexpensive. Also used in pharmaceuticals as a binding agent, it is also found in sugar substitutes like Splenda.

This food additive is made by cooking down the starch, and then acid and/or enzymes break the starch down even further, kind of like what the body does to digest carbohydrates. It's usually used in small amounts, so it doesn't have a significant impact in terms of amount of protein, fat, carbohydrate, or fiber. Every gram of maltodextrin contains only 4 calories, which is not really a significant caloric load. Although maltodextrin is processed and is not the healthiest thing on the planet, at least now we know that it's made from real food and not some nasty chemicals.

Fit's Tip: Celiacs beware! In the US, the FDA requires that maltodextrin be derived from corn or potato starch (so it's gluten free), but elsewhere it can be derived from barley or wheat. So it's always good to contact food companies directly just to make sure.

What in the World is Maltodextrin?

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:30:00 -0700

You know I have become obsessed with reading labels, and since I keep coming across maltodextrin I decided to find out what it really is.

Maltodextrin is an easily digestible carbohydrate made from rice, corn or potato starch. It's a white powder used in processed foods as a thickener, or a filler since it's fairly inexpensive. Also used in pharmaceuticals as a binding agent, it is also found in sugar substitutes, like Splenda for example.

Maltodextrin is made by cooking down the starch, and then acid and/or enzymes break the starch down even further, kind of like what the body does to digest carbohydrates. It's usually used in such small amounts, so it doesn't have a significant impact in terms amount of protein, fat, carbohydrate, or fiber. Every gram of maltodextrin has 4 calories, which is not really a significant caloric load.
Although maltodextrin is processed and it's not the best thing to be consuming, at least now we know that it's made from real food - not some nasty chemicals.

Fit's Tip: Celiacs beware! In Europe, maltodextrin can be derived from barley or wheat, but then it should be labeled as "wheat maltodextrin."

Source

Food Review: South of the Border Pistachios

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:13:18 -0700

We all crave junk food every once in a while, but there are healthy substitutions out there. If you crave Spicy Nacho Doritios you should give the South of the Border Pistachios by Everybody's Nuts a try.

The flavor of these pistachios is as satisfying as the Doritos, but the nuts are so much healthier than corn chips, and nuts don't leave a neon coating on your fingers either. Speaking of hands, here is another reason to choose the nuts over chips: it takes two hands to eat pistachios, and only one hand to reach into a Doritos bag. This means you will eat the nuts more slowly, and not while driving, a bad snacking habit many of us are guilty of.

To see how these two nacho-flavored treats compare, read more.

	South of the Border pistachios 1/2 cup (no shells)	Nacho Cheese Doritios 1 ounce
Calories	170	140
Total Fat (g)	13	7
Saturated Fat (g)	1.5	1
Carbs (g)	9	18
Fiber (g)	3	under 1
Protein (g)	6	2
Iron	8 percent	2 percent
Vitamin B6	20 percent	4 percent

Yes, pistachios are higher in calories and fat, but the health benefits of the this nut are substantial. They help lower cholesterol as well as protect against breast and prostate cancers. Plus, they are high in protein, which means you will stay fuller longer.

The list of ingredients for the pistachios is considerably shorter than the list on the Doritos bag, but I thought you might be interested.

Ingredients: Dry roasted pistachios, salt, corn syrup solids, spice (includes chili paper), maltodextrin, citric acid, lime juice solids, garlic powder, dextrose, natural flavor, paprika extract.

You can find Everybody's Nuts at Costco, Kroger, Wegmans, and Kmart. Or you can buy them buy the case at the Everybody's Nuts website.

British Court Rules Pringles Are Indeed Potato Chips

YumSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:30:26 -0700

Pringles might be nicknamed "crack in a cardboard tube," but in the eyes of the UK government, they are still considered potato chips.

Last year, a UK judge ruled that because Pringles contains less than 50 percent potato and is formed into an artificial shape, it's not a chip, and therefore isn't subject to the 15 percent country's value-added tax. But in a major defeat for Pringles parent company P&G, this ruling was overturned, and the corporation must fork over approximately £100 million, or $159 million, in taxes.

In the appeal, P&G's lawyers insisted that the snacks were not potato chips, citing the "uniform color" and arguing that its "regular shape" is "not found in nature." P&G also maintains that Pringles are only 42 percent potato, a fact I'm pretty taken aback by. The chips other ingredients include maltodextrin, dextrose, and wheat starch.

Are you surprised to hear about these ingredients? Do you consider Pringles to be chips?

Source

Are You Label Able?

FitSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:50:00 -0700

I'm a religious label reader, and when I come across something I've never heard of (or can't pronounce), I investigate to find out whether or not it's healthy. If you're curious about ingredients such as maltodextrin and xanthan gum, then keep reading.

Source

View Slideshow ›

Food Review: Popchips

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:10:00 -0700

If potato chips are your weakness, indulging in grease, salt, and high amounts of fat might make you feel a little guilty, not to mention sick to your stomach. I just came upon an alternative marketed as a healthier chip, Popchips. They are never baked or fried. Popchips are made by applying heat and pressure (and according to their website "a little snack magic") to corn and potatoes, and presto chango a new kind of chip is formed.

As you can see they come in a wide variety of flavors, but how do they stack up against other potato chips? To find out, read more.

Here's the nutritional info for one ounce of chips (about 19 chips).

Serving Size
Calories	100	150	150
Total Fat	4 g	10 g	9 g
Saturated Fat	0g	1g	1g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg	0mg
Sodium	250mg	200mg	170mg
Carbs	20g	15g	15g
Fiber	1g	1g	2g
Sugar	2g	2g	1g
Protein	1g	2g	2g
Ingredients	Natural potato ingredients (potato flour, potato starch), Safflower Oil and/or Sunflower Oil, Barbecue Seasoning (Sugar, Whey, Onion and Garlic Powders, Salt, Torula Yeast, Brown Sugar, Tomato Powder, Yeast Extract, Spices, Natural Flavors, Natural Smoke Flavor, Citric Acid, Paprika Extract, Paprika, Rice Flour, Salt, Soy Lecithin.	Potatoes, Sunflower Oil, Barbecue Seasoning (Sugar, less than (2%) of the Following: Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavor, Molasses, Onion Powder, Monosodium Glutamate, Autolyzed Yeast [Torula], Salt, Spices, Paprika and Extractives of Paprika, Garlic Powder, Tomato Powder, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Canola Oil, Yeast, Citric Acid, and Mesquite Smoke Flavor), and Salt.	Select Potatoes, Safflower and/or Sunflower oil, Honey Powder (Cane Syrup, Honey), Salt, Rice Flour, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Paprika, Torula Yeast, Yeast Extract, Garlic Powder, Chili Pepper, Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor, Citric Acid, Paprika Extract, and Cayenne Pepper.

These chips have a wonderful light and crispy texture, and I loved that they weren't greasy like regular potato chips usually are. They sort of melt in your mouth after you crunch on them, and were surprisingly satisfying, even though they're full of air. The barbecue flavor was a little weird, almost a little too strong or burnt tasting.

As for nutrition, yes these chips have less calories, total fat, and saturated fat as compared to the Lay's and Kettle chips, but they also have more carbs and sodium and less protein. Comparing ingredients just makes me cringe. These chips aren't even made with real potatoes - no, "potato ingredients" doesn't count. If I had a hankering for BBQ chips again, I'd go for the Kettle chips. They're made with actual potatoes, have a lot less sodium than the Popchips, less sugar, and more fiber and protein. So what if they have more calories and fat? I'm not eating BBQ potato chips for health reasons here. They're a splurge, so they should taste like it.

Artificial Sweeteners Explained

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:30:00 -0700

I have a huge sweet tooth and I'm not afraid to admit it. I tend to go for treats made with real sugar, but I know many people watching their calorie intake like to go for sugar substitutes (so they can have their cake and not wear it too).

There are so many artificial sweeteners out there, it's hard to keep them straight. Here's a list of some of the most popular ones.

Type of Artificial Sweetener	General Info	Pros	Cons
Sucralose (Splenda)	Contains maltodextrin to bulk it up It's 600 times sweeter than regular sugar.	Has zero calories. You can bake with it. After 110 studies, the FDA concluded that sucralose has no toxic or carcinogenic effects, and poses no reproductive or neurological risks to people.	The bulking agents add about 12 calories per tablespoon of Splenda (although the nutritional info doesn't list these calories. Adds an artificial taste when you bake with it.

Want to see the rest of the list? Then read more

Saccharin (Sweet'N Low)	It's 300 times sweeter than regular sugar. Is a molecule made from petroleum. The FDA proposed a ban on it in 1977 when lab rats that were fed huge amounts contracted bladder cancer. The ban was never enacted though, and the warning label was dropped in 2000.	Has zero calories. You can bake with it.	Since 1981, government reports list it as an "anticipated human carcinogen." Male smokers may be at risk of cancer if they consume large amounts. Little studies have been done regarding its effects on children, so they should consume it in small quantities, or not at all. Pregnant women are advised to use saccharin sparingly.
Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal)	It's 180 to 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. 70 percent of all aspartame is used in sodas. The FDA has set the acceptable daily intake (ADI) at 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. That translates to about four (12 oz.) cans of diet soda per day (that's a lot of soda).	One gram of aspartame contains 4 calories. In 1996, the FDA approved its use in foods and beverages. It's approved for consumption by pregnant women, as long as they follow the FDA's guidelines.	You can't bake with it. Some people may have a sensitivity to aspartame, and may experience headaches, dizziness, mood changes, or skin reactions after consuming it.
Acesulfame-K (Sunette or Sweet One)	It's 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. The body can't break it down, so it's excreted from the body unchanged.	It has zero calories. It's approved by the FDA. It doesn't increase the risk of cancer, or affect blood-sugar levels. You can bake with it. It's approved for consumption by pregnant women, as long as they follow the FDA's guidelines.	It has a bitter taste on its own. The consumer group, Center for Science in the Public Interest, believes that studies on this sweetener were poorly done and didn't test its potential cancer-causing risks.
Sorbitol, Mannitol	These are sugar alcohols that occur naturally in fruits, and are commercially made for use as sweeteners.	FDA has designated them as "Generally Recognized As Safe." They're absorbed slowly.	Some parts of these aren't absorbed at all, so consuming these in large quantities may cause diarrhea. This laxative effect can happen if you consume more than 49 grams of sorbitol, or more than 19 grams of manitol.

Fit's Tips: After hearing all those bad things about sugar substitutes, and knowing that one packet of real sugar contains only 11 calories, I think I'll stick to the sugar. What about you?

Source

Who You Calling Sugar?

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:30:00 -0800

If you're trying to cut sugar out of your diet, the best way to go about it is by reading labels. If nutritional labels just said "sugar," the task of cutting sugar out would be easy, but they don't so it's not. There are many more names for sugar out there and this handy little list reveals them all.

barley malt
beet sugar
brown sugar
buttered syrup
cane-juice crystals
cane sugar
caramel
carob syrup
corn syrup
corn syrup solids

That's just a small taste of it. There are many, many more so read more

date sugar
dextran
dextrose
diatase
diastatic malt
ethyl maltol
fructose
fruit juice
fruit juice concentrate
glucose
glucose solids
golden sugar
golden syrup
grape sugar
high-fructose corn syrup
honey
invert sugar
lactose
malt syrup
maltodextrin
maltose
mannitol
molasses
raw sugar
refiner's syrup
sorbitol
sorghum syrup
sucrose
sugar
turbinado sugar
yellow sugar

Source

Thai Kitchen: Instant Rice Noodle Soup

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

There comes a time in every busy woman's life when she needs to make a quick meal, and nothing says quick like "Instant Rice Noodle Soup."

I recently tried the Garlic & Vegetable flavor made by Thai Kitchen. They were very flavorful and satisfying, and I liked that they were made with rice noodles instead of wheat noodles - it cooked quickly (in less than 5 minutes) and rice noodles are easy to digest.

I wanted to write about it because it's in just about every health food store I've ever been in. By far, this is NOT the most nutritious meal option on planet Earth (lots of sodium and made with some processed ingredients), but it is a better option than those other noodle soup brands like Cup-o-Noodles. Plus it's vegan, gluten free, egg free, nut and peanut free, and fat free.

Want to see the nutritional info and a closeup photo? Then read more

	Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup: Garlic & Vegetable
Serving Size	1 package
Calories	160
Total Fat	3g
Saturated Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	940mg
Carbs	34g
Fiber	0g
Sugar	2g
Protein	2g
Ingredients	rice noodles (rice, water tapioca), seasoning packet (sugar, salt, spices [garlic, ginger, chili, basil, green onions], maltodextrin, hydrolyzed corn protein, autolyzed yeast, sunflower oil, natural flavor, hydrolyzed soy protein, soybean oil), oil packet (soybean oil, chili, garlic, shallot, tocopherol [vitamin E]).

Fit's Tips: It's a great idea to keep "fast foods" like this at home or in the office, in case you have a quick meal emergency. You can make them a little healthier (and more delicious) by adding beans, and stir-fried or steamed veggies. Carrots, red peppers, and mushrooms are my fave.

Not-So-Healthy Health Foods

FitSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 12:30:00 -0700

A lot of times we have the impression that something is healthy just by its name but that is not always the case. I came across this great article from MSNBC.com that details five foods that are typically labeled as healthy, but aren't:

Yogurt: Most people know that calcium is important to build bones and prevent osteoporosis. And milk products, such as yogurt, are one of your best sources of calcium. Recent research also shows that some healthy bacteria in yogurts, called probiotics, can help keep you regular, curb symptoms of travelers' diarrhea, diarrhea associated with taking antibiotics and inflammatory bowel disease, and might even boost immunity and lower colon cancer risk. The most powerful bacteria are ones like L. acidophilus.

Don't pay extra for the brands on the market that say their specific form of bacteria - with silly names like “regularis” - are any more effective at keeping you regular. And just because a yogurt has the word “immunity” in the title doesn't mean it's better at boosting your immune system either. Choose a brand with a mix of bacteria. Also, skip most fruited varieties, which have up to eight teaspoons of added sugar, more sugar than you'll find in most candy bars. With Americans consuming more sugar than has ever been consumed by any living creature in the history of the planet, or about 40 teaspoons a day, we need to cut way back on sugar, not keep piling it on! Oh, and those yogurt coatings on pretzels and raisins? It's more candy than yogurt, which explains why an ounce of yogurt-coated raisins has more than 40% more calories than plain raisins.

What about low-carb desserts? read more

Low-carb desserts: These sales gimmicks typically have just as many calories as their full-carb counterparts. For example, Oreo Reduced-Fat cookies have 150 calories for three, just 10 calories less than the full-fat originals. Weaver's Baked 40% Reduced-Fat crackers are only 20 calories less than the full-fat Weaver's crackers. And General Mills Reduced Sugar Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal has only 10 fewer calories per 3/4 cup serving than the regular.
Why don't you save more calories? Many of these items replace sugar with a sugar alcohol, such as maltitol or maltodextrin, which has fewer calories than sugar, but isn't calorie-free. And watch out - these alcohols can have a laxative effect. Also, in some cases, the manufacturer has just down-sized the serving size, so you're eating less in order to get those slightly fewer calories. Also, beware. People tend to eat more when they think it is low-fat or low-carb, so you could end up packing on even more weight if you don't limit the serving size.

Source