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making smart and safe decisions
when purchasing vitamins and supple-
ments.
Ask the Right Questions
Start with asking the right questions.
Protect your health and wellbeing by
being inquisitive about the intrica-
cies of supplement development and
production.
* How and why are product ingredi-
ents selected?
* Where are the farms located and
who is operating them?
* Are chemicals and pesticides used in
the growing process?
* Are the right parts of the plants
being used and are they harvested
to maximize the nutrients our bodies
need?
* Will the package keep the supple-
ments fresh and how is the packaging
tested before distribution?
These questions should be easily
What Is Maltodextrin
different degrees of symptomatology of disruptive
behaviors.
Yet, there has been very little research on the ef-
ficacy and safety of pharmacological modalities,
limited mostly to stimulants for attention deficit
hyperactive disorder or second generation atypical
antipsychotics for aggression.
Recently, the use of cannabinoids has been de-
scribed for symptoms related to autistic spectrum
disorder with apparent favorable effects, as well as
for other disruptive behaviors.
The objective of our study was to follow up, in a
retrospective case series, the effect of cannabis in
children and young adults diagnosed with FASD.
Methods:
In two children and three FASD young adults with
severe disruptive behavior, changes in behavior af-
ter cannabis use were measured by the parent ver-
sion of the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form.
Results:
In all five cases, there was a highly statistical
decrease in the disruptive behavior score from
18¡À1.0 before cannabis use to 6¡À2.1 after intro-
duction of cannabis (p=0.0002).
Discussion:
In children and young adults with FASD, cannabis,
mostly cannabidiol (CBD), has been associated
with a marked and statistically significant improve-
ment in serious disruptive behavior.
These cases suggest that the efficacy and safety of
CBD should be tested in well-controlled studies.
Health & Nurturing
2020 February/March
Pg 7 - The Sunshine Express
get them from foods as well.
The Dangers of Maltodextrin
There are some potential side effects from
consuming too much maltodextrin. Detroyer
explains, ¡°It can spike blood sugar, so malto-
dextrin is problematic for people with diabe-
tes or reactive hypoglycemia.¡±
This is due to its high glycemic index of 106-
136, which means that it allows for the rapid
release of glucose, thus raising one¡¯s blood
sugar.
It is also high in calories, therefore too much
of it can lead to weight gain, so be care-
ful about consuming excessive amounts, if
you¡¯re looking to manage your weight.
¡°Maltodextrins, the type that is digested,
have also been associated with negative
changes to gut bacteria,¡± says Detroyer, ¡°It
can be problematic for someone with celiac
disease, even though the proteins are re-
moved with processing.¡±
¡°It causes an inflammatory response in those
that are allergic.¡± Not only that, people with
IBS and other similar conditions need to be
careful, as it can cause gas and bloat.¡±
How to Limit Maltodextrin
To minimize the effects of maltodextrin,
combine it with some fiber or protein that
will help slow down its digestion.
¡°We highly recommend people avoid pro-
cessed foods with additives, because of their
impact on the body,¡± says Detroyer. ¡°It can
be problematic with people who have IBS
and those with difficulty digesting sugars
from plants.¡±
It¡¯s also best to eat low on the food chain to
limit consumption of maltodextrin. Detroyer
recommends consuming, ¡°fruits, veggies,
grains, fish, chicken, beef, pork, tofu, eda-
mame, and beans. Look for dairy products
that do not have additives, and limit how
much you eat of ones that do.¡±
Another great idea is to try using or con-
suming products that contain maltodextrin
alternatives, such as stevia, honey, and
dates. Look for products that have these bet-
ter alternatives, and make sure that you are
reading labels. (by Emily Trinh)
Why Is It in All of My Food?; An expert
dietitian tells us everything we need to know
about maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a common ingredient that you most
likely have seen on a nutrition label; however, de-
spite its familiarity, most people don¡¯t really know
what it is.
To help clear things up, we asked Mary Jane
Detroyer, MS, RDN, CDN, to explain more about
maltodextrin, what it is, and whether it¡¯s safe to
consume.
¡°Maltodextrin is a powdery substance made from
grains, wheat, corn and potato, that is added to
foods,¡± Detroyer says.
It¡¯s a polysaccharide, a form of carbohydrate, that
is artificially produced and used to bind ingredients
together, as well as to thicken food. However, un-
like other types of carbohydrates, maltodextrin has
no nutritional value.
What does maltodextrin do?
Maltodextrin is an inexpensive food additive that
increases the shelf life of a product, adds volume
to processed foods and is a sugar substitute.
Popular foods and liquids that contain this ingredi-
ent include beer, dairy products, salad dressings,
and sauces. You¡¯ll also find them in sugar-free
foods.
¡°There are different types of maltodextrins; certain
forms are digestible and some are not,¡± Detroyer
informs.
Resistant maltodextrin produces the same effects
as soluble fiber and are indigestible, while the oth-
er type of maltodextrin gives you an energy boost
as a simple carbohydrate. You¡¯ll likely find malto-
dextrin in sports drinks for this reason... athletes
tend to consume maltodextrin after a hard work-
out, to deliver more carbohydrates to the muscles
to fuel recovery.
Is it safe to consume?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administra-
tion (FDA), maltodextrin is listed as a GRAS (Gen-
erally Recognized as Safe) food additive; however,
you still need to be careful.
If excessive amounts are consumed, it can still
cause health conditions. This is especially im-
portant for athletes who love their post-workout
sports drink ritual.
¡°For an athlete that experiences a lot of GI (gas-
trointestinal) stress on long runs, in using these
drinks and gels, they may have trouble digesting
them and they should probably avoid the drinks
with maltodextrins,¡± says Detroyer.
She recommends that they look for alternative
drinks or make their own.
¡°I think that you can get the same effect by drink-
ing juice mixed with water and eating a bagel and
a piece of cheese. The difference is that the liquid
drink is easier to transport and absorbed faster
into the muscle,¡± Detroyer says.
So, if you don¡¯t want to give up your post-workout
sports drink, then just be careful not to overdo it.
Make sure to vary your maltodextrin sources and
found and answered by researching companies
and their processes.
Trace the Source
Consumers have a right to know where their
supplements come from. Do you know where your
products originated? Can you trace them to the
source?
Understanding not just how ingredients were culti-
vated but where and by whom your supplements
are produced also matters.
But how can you be sure? Confirm the brand
you¡¯re purchasing from is truly transparent and
offers insight into each step of its process from
start to finish.
¡°Nothing matters more than your health and the
health of your family. That¡¯s why it¡¯s important to
know as much as you can about the products you
consume,¡± said Sam Kilgore, quality engineering
manager at Nutrilite, the world¡¯s number 1 selling
vitamin, supplement and minerals brand.
¡°At Nutrilite, we meticulously track each step of
the journey - from seed to supplement. Every one
of our botanicals goes through a detailed nine-
step traceability process and we have rigorous
rules in place to help protect our products from
even the slightest threat of contamination at any
point in the process. This ensures that our supple-
ments contain exactly what we say they do.¡±
According to Kilgore, who is also known as Nut-
rilite¡¯s ¡°chief traceability officer,¡± Nutrilite offers
insight and transparency into every step of its
process, tracing ingredients down to the last detail
as highlighted by the Nutrilite Double X Vita-
min/Mineral/Phytonutrient Supplement.
Verify Then Trust
Most vitamins and dietary supplements are not
regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
As a conscious consumer, however, you want to
ensure you know exactly what¡¯s going in or on
your body.
Verifying a product¡¯s safety and reliability is an
important part of your due diligence. One way
you can do this is by consulting EcoCert, a global
leader in certification in organic farming, sustain-
ability and safety.
NSF International is also an independent orga-
nization to check. NSF conducts product testing
to confirm the actual contents of the supplement
match those printed on the label. Its testing also
confirms that there are no unsafe levels of con-
taminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides and
herbicides in the product.
Knowing for certain the supplements you and your
family are consuming are safe, pure and effective
will give you the peace of mind you deserve.
From Seed to Supplement:
Behind the Label
How to make smart and safe decisions
when buying vitamins and supplements
(BPT): More than ever before, consumers to-
day are demanding transparency on product
labels.
As news about food adulteration and con-
tamination continues to appear in the
headlines, the concern for food and product
safety is rising.
If nutritional supplements have ever been
an important part of your daily routine, no
doubt you¡¯ve wondered what¡¯s behind the
label.
You may be among the growing ranks of
consumers questioning where their prod-
ucts come from and how they¡¯re developed.
These are key questions - it¡¯s important to
know where your supplement¡¯s ingredients
are sourced to guarantee purity, safety and
efficacy.
Here¡¯s some tips to help ensure you¡¯re