i dont understand why people hate on mass gainers becuse of maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a hydrolyzed starch that is mostly flavorless, to sweet in flavor. The way it is digested and metabolized is basically the same as sugar… it has a higher glycemic index than white table sugar. It’s put in a lot of things because it has a pleasing texture and dissolves on the tongue. Also helps spices and flavorings cling to snacks such as potato chips and flavored corn chips.
People say it’s “bad” because it is a simple carbohydrate, conferring calories and raising blood sugar with no nutritional benefit. Also because of labeling laws, it doesn’t get included in “sugars” counts, so it gets used a lot in “sugar free” products or sugar substitutes while essentially still doing the same things in the body that actual sugar does.
It’s a simple carb, like table sugar, meaning it is reduced to its component monosaccharides and absorbed early and quickly in digestion. Most western diets already contain too many simple carbs. They’re avoided, because they’re strongly directly linked to insulin resistance (diabetes) and obesity.
Metabolically, maltodextrin cannot be turned into muscle—only glycogen and fat.
In an otherwise strictly macro-controlled diet, maltodextrin, like any simple carb, can be used for quick energy. I’ve seen athletes use it in shakes for this reason.
But in most balanced diets, it’s all the calories of sugar with practically no added nutritional benefit.
I’ve never seen any data linking MD with negative long-term outcomes, and while that doesn’t mean there aren’t any, it likely means that the people hating on it are either A) listening to social media influencers without much critical thinking (shocking), or B) allowing fear of long, complicated words paralyze them.
Compared to more conventional carbohydrates, it causes a higher spike in blood sugar levels shortly after ingestion. Real bad for pretty much everything connected to blood sugar. It’s much healthier to use carbs with slower, more steady sugar release.
Maltodextrin is a simple glucose chain. While technically a complex carbohydrate, it is absorbed more quickly even than free glucose. It is commonly used in sports foods for that exact reason. When racing and getting near the finish sprint, it is desirable to get a fuel boost ASAP, not an hour or two later after the race is over.
It is also used in small quantities as a filler. Unlike fructose, sucrose, or free glucose, maltodextrin is not sweet. It is no discernable flavor at all. All but trivial quantities should generally be avoided outside of an athletic context.
Pretty mild language. Treat it like sugar should be easier to understand.
>Exchanging unprocessed starch with maltodextrins may lead to an increased glycemic load and therefore post meal glycaemia, which are viewed as less desirable for health.
>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4940893/
every time I taken a maltodextrin based gainer I went into hypoglycemic shock within 45-75 minutes. never had these episodes beforehand, I am rather healthy and on a predominantly Whole Foods diet. If it makes you feel like garbage, it’s probably garbage. Standard American diet is so bad though I don’t think typical person will know the difference or care.
Man, I’ve been eating a lot of this because I’ve been drinking a lot of hot chocolate sweetened with Splenda. Malodextin is the second ingredient. I thought that I was avoiding an insulin spike and being healthier. That’s how the Splenda is marketed. Guess not. No wonder I’ve still been getting pimples despite not eating much sugar.