Acesulfame potassium is a zero-calorie sweetener that is added to many sugar-free…
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Polydextrose
Polydextrose
Polydextrose
What is it:
Polydextrose is a soluble fiber and low-calorie sugar substitute commonly used in the food industry to improve the texture and mouthfeel of various food products while also boosting their fiber content. Polydextrose is typically manufactured through the polymerization of dextrose (a simple sugar derived from corn) along with sorbitol and citric acid. It is often used as a bulking agent and a stabilizer in a wide range of food items, including baked goods, dairy products, and confectionery.
Rating:
Polydextrose acts as a fermentable fiber in the gut and may beneficially modulate gut microbiota, helping to improve parameters of bowel movements, glucose regulation, body weight, and inflammation. While no research suggests a negative effect of polydextrose, it is a synthetically created polymer that is derived from Sorbitol (rated red) and may or may not be from GMO-corn.
Resources:
- Polydextrose may help improve gut health (review)
- Polydextrose physiological functions as a prebiotic (review)
- The fermentation of polydextrose in the large intestine and its beneficial effects (review)
- Polydextrose improves bowel movements (randomized controlled trial)
- Polydextrose alleviates adipose tissue inflammation and modulates gut microbiota in mice (animal study)
- Role of polydextrose in body weight control and glucose regulation (review)
- EFSA re-evaluation of polydextrose as a food additive
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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