Polydextrose is a multipurpose food additive with remarkable properties that make it a super ingredient when it comes to nutrition, health, and application. In simple terms, polydextrose is a soluble dietary fiber that plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health.
With growing awareness about nutrition, and emphasis on gut health, dietary fiber has gained tremendous popularity owing to its role in maintaining gut health intact.
In this article, you will find a detailed explanation of polydextrose, its role as a soluble fiber, health benefits, and risks associated with polydextrose consumption.
How Does Polydextrose Work? Let us Talk Science.
Polydextrose is a soluble dietary fiber that is composed of several glucose molecules bonded together randomly to form a highly branched structure.
This structure of polydextrose is so complex and branched that it can not be broken down by the enzymes present in the human digestive tract.
As a result, polydextrose passes through the digestive tract of the gut unchanged and reaches the large intestine unbroken or minimally altered. When dietary fiber reaches the colon, it is used as a substrate by the good bacteria in the colon. These good bacteria act upon dietary fiber and produce short-chain fatty acids that have various beneficial effects on health. This property of polydextrose as a soluble dietary fiber helps to maintain overall health significantly.
Why is Polydextrose Classified as a Prebiotic?
Prebiotics are foods that are typically high in dietary fiber and act as food or substrates for healthy microflora of healthy bacteria present in the human gut. There are certain criteria that a food should meet to be classified as a prebiotic and polydextrose meets the following criteria very well.
Let’s take a quick look at those criteria.
The food compound should not be hydrolyzed or broken or absorbed in the stomach or small intestine. The food component should be a selective substrate for beneficial bacteria in the colon, such as bifidobacteria Fermentation of the food component should generate beneficial luminal/systemic effects within the body. The food component provides satiety and a feeling of fullness for a long time.
1. The Interplay of Gut Health
A healthy gut leads to a healthy life including a healthy mind and a healthy body. You have probably heard about how our gut plays a significant role in our overall health.
In this particular section, you will find details on the intertwined relationship of polydextrose, gut health, and overall well-being.
2. Enhanced Gut Barrier Integrity
Polydextrose can improve your gut barrier integrity, therefore enhancing your overall gut health. As polydextrose is a soluble dietary fiber, it reaches the colon in the digestive tract, where it is fermented by good bacteria and produces short-chain fatty acids. These short-chain fatty acids play an important role in maintaining gut health and gut barrier integrity.
Gut barrier integrity means the property of intestinal cells to restrict the entry of unhealthy microorganisms and toxins and only allow entry of nutrients, water, and essential ions.
This ability of intestinal cells is enhanced by polydextrose, thus contributing to the overall health of the digestive system.
3. Regulates Glucose level
Polydextrose is a soluble dietary fiber, which means it is not completely broken down by digestive enzymes in the gut.
As a result, it does not impart any glucose spike in the blood. Thus it is healthy for prediabetic people.
Consuming polydextrose in combination with other food components can also help reduce the blood sugar level.
4. Stronger Immunity
Polydextrose helps enhance the immune system of the body. The short-chain fatty acids produced in the colon as a result of fermentation of polydextrose or soluble dietary fiber, have a positive impact on the immune cells such as macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils.
Thus enhancing the immune system in the body and protecting the body from diseases and infections.
5. Anti-inflammatory property
Polydextrose works as dietary fiber and produces SCFAs ( Short chain fatty acids) in the gut which in turn display anti-inflammatory properties in the body.
Being anti-inflammatory these SCFAs protect cells from pain, redness, and swelling. Therefore preventing inflammatory bowel disease.
6. Controlled Blood Pressure
Polydextrose can help regulate and control blood pressure in the body. Thus reducing the chances of hypertension.
7. Keeps your Heart Healthy
Polydextrose helps improve cardiovascular health, therefore reducing the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
8. Anti-cancer Property
Polydextrose helps produce SCFAs in the gut which are responsible for anti-carcinogenic effects. It means these SCFAs protect body cells from cancer.
In particular, butyric acid produced from the fermentation of polydextrose in the body exerts a direct impact on bladder cancer and inhibits cancer cells. by preventing cell growth.
Polydextrose also results in increased fecal bulk and reduces intestinal transit time. As a result, polydextrose decreases the exposure of colonocytes to potential gut carcinogens, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer.
9. Weight Management
Polydextrose is a soluble dietary fiber and forms a gel-like viscous structure when it comes in contact with water. As a result, polydextrose gives roughage and bulk to the food. Also, it takes time to pass through the digestive system. This helps to provide a feeling of fullness or satiety and you do not feel hungry for a long time. Therefore polydextrose can be significantly helpful to manage weight.
10. WHO Recommendation
The WHO recommends taking an average of 18 to 25 grams of dietary fiber. This much amount of polydextrose as dietary fiber can help the individual to meet the daily fiber requirement of the body.
11. Polydextrose is Safe to Eat
Polydextrose is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved dietary purpose. Several studies about polydextrose have proved that polydextrose is safe to consume. and polydextrose has been approved in nearly 50 countries for over 15 years.
Benefits of Polydextrose Powder
Polydextrose powder is a kind of fiber that dissolves in water and is getting popular because it might be good for your health. Here are some reasons why:
1. Helps Your Gut: Polydextrose acts like food for the good bacteria in your gut. This can help your digestion, make it easier for your body to use nutrients, and maybe even make your immune system stronger.
2. Controls Blood Sugar: Some studies show that polydextrose might help keep your blood sugar levels steady. This could be good for people with diabetes or who are at risk for it.
3. Makes You Feel Full: Polydextrose might make you feel like you’ve eaten enough, so you don’t eat as much. This could help with weight management, but we need more research to be sure.
4. Low in Calories: Polydextrose doesn’t have as many calories as sugar, so it might be good for people who are trying to eat fewer calories.
5. Adds Texture and Taste: Polydextrose tastes a little sweet and can make food feel fuller without making it too sweet. This means it could be used in foods that have less sugar.
Conclusion
Polydextrose has multifaceted benefits. It is a valuable ingredient in various food products. It has a significant role in enhancing gut health, improving weight management, and controlling blood sugar levels. Thus contributing to enhancing the overall health of the body. However a few health risks are associated with excess consumption of polydextrose, but they can be managed with care.
Check also: Top Applications of Polydextrose
As research continues on the potential benefits of polydextrose it proves to be a valuable food component in today’s times.
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