Chicory , Maltodextrin , Guar Gum - What are these ?

Chicory is a plant. Its roots and dried, above-ground parts are used to make medicine.

Chicory is used for loss of appetite, upset stomach, constipation, liver and gallbladderdisorders, cancer, and rapid heartbeat.

It is also used as a “tonic,” to increase urine production, to protect the liver, and to balance the stimulant effect of coffee.

Some people apply a paste of chicory leaves directly to the skin for swelling andinflammation.

In foods, chicory leaves are often eaten like celery, and the roots and leaf buds are boiled and eaten. Chicory is also used as a cooking spice and to flavor foods and beverages. Coffee mixes often include ground chicory to enhance the richness of the coffee.

How does it work?

Chicory root has a mild laxative effect, increases bile from the gallbladder, and decreases swelling. Chicory is a rich source of beta-carotene.

Health Benefits of Chicory 

Chicory is a woody, herbaceous plant that has a wealth of health benefits, including the ability to ease digestive problems, prevent heartburn, reduce arthritis pains, detoxify the liver and gallbladder, prevent bacterial infections, boost the immune system, and reduce the chance of heart disease. It is also a natural sedative, and can protect against kidney stones, and benefit attempts to lose weight. All in all, this small plant is a powerful addition to any diet.

Chicory grows well in many different conditions, and is commonly found on the roadsides in Europe, where it originated, but it has now naturalized into the Americas and can be found widely there. The leaves, buds, and roots all have certain beneficial qualities, and the leaves are used in a similar way as spinach in many cultures. The root is often ground into a powder and used as a coffee substitute, which doesn’t negate all of its health benefits. It has been used for hundreds of years as a herbal remedy for many diseases, and continues to prove its worth today.

In terms of nutritive value, chicory is a great source of vitamins and minerals, including zinc, magnesium,manganese, calcium, iron folic acid, and potassium, as well as vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K. These are the main agents behind all of the health benefits that come from chicory, which are explained below.

Health Benefits of Chicory

 Digestive Issues: One of the most common reasons for adding chicory to a diet is to improve various functions of the digestive system. Chicory contains, inulin, which is a powerful probiotic. Probiotics are a classification of bacteria that actually confer benefits on the host, rather than diseases, which is what bacteria is commonly associated with.  Inulin is used to combat a number of intestinal and digestive concerns, including acid reflux disease, indigestion, and heartburn because it actively reduces the acidity of the body’s systems.

Heart Disease: Inulin is not only beneficial for the digestive system, it has also been shown to reduce the levels of “bad” cholesterol in the body. This LDL cholesterol is one of the main causes behind atherosclerosisand high blood pressure, because it somewhat blocks the flow of blood when it binds to arteries and veins. It can also contribute to the possibility of heart attacks and strokes. Interestingly enough, the chemical pathway that inulin functions in to reduce the presence of LDL cholesterol is rarely active unless a person consumes a high level of carbohydrates, so this benefit has s slightly smaller range of affect. However, more research is currently being done on how chicory can help heart health in other ways.

Chicory is also packed with plant phenols, which have been widely studied as anti-thrombotic and anti-arrhythmic agents. They are considered antioxidants, and studies have shown that chicory-based coffee rather than normal coffee can significantly improve the balance of blood and plasma in the body, which reduces chances of cardiovascular disease.

Cancer Prevention:Although research is still ongoing in terms of the exact mechanism of prevention, chicory extract has been linked to a reduction in tumor growth in various cancer studies. Early reports indicate that it is due to the fructans within chicory, which have anti-tumor qualities and antioxidant properties. The polyphenols and phytochemicals within chicory also have a positive effect on preventing cancer of various types, including breast cancer andcolorectal cancer.

Reduce Arthritis Pain: Chicory has traditionally been used as a treatment for arthritis, and studies have shown chicory to have significant anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it works to reduce the pain fromconditions like osteoarthritis. In a 2010 study, 70% of test subjects who received the chicory treatment reported a noticeable improvement in the pain associated with their osteoarthritic condition. Chicory can also be used as a general anti-inflammatory agent for aches, muscle pains, and joint soreness for this same reason.

Weight Loss: Chicory is a good source of oligofructose, and inulin itself is a form of natural dietary fiber, and these help in the management of weight and attempts at weight loss. These both aid in the regulation of ghrelin, which is an amino acid primarily associated with feelings of hunger and food-seeking behavior. By reducing the amount of the ghrelin hormone, chicory can reduce the chances of overeating and promote satiety, or the feeling of fullness. This can help in weight loss efforts!

Constipation: Once again, inulin’s role as a natural fiber comes as a major benefit to chicory eaters! The fiber helps to bulk up bowel movements, promote peristaltic motions, and the secretion of gastric juices. Basically, that means that digestion as a whole is improved, and constipation is greatly reduced. By maintaining a smooth and regulated digestive process, people can reduce the chances of a number of gastrointestinal conditions and diseases, including stomach and colon cancer!

Immune System: Chicory has a number of helpful qualities that make it a powerful booster for your immune system. It displays clear antibacterial effects on a number of dangerous strains of bacteria, and we have already mentioned the benefits of the polyphenolic compounds in chicory in terms of the immune system. There are also phytochemicals in chicory that act as antioxidants, further sweeping out free radicals from the blood stream, which reduces the chances of contracting a number of diseases or conditions, including heart disease and cancer.

Anxiety and Stress: Chicory has sedative qualities that canreduce anxiety and soothe the mind, thereby relieving stress and the dangerous effects it can have on the body. Chicory root extract can also be used as a sleep aid due to this sedative quality, and is much healthier than many of the sleeping pills on the conventional market. relieving stress and anxiety can also help reduce your chances of heart disease, hormonal imbalance, insomnia, cognitive decline, and premature aging.

Kidney Health: Chicory root extract is often used as a diuretic, which increases the amount of urination. Consistent and healthy frequency of urination can help to eliminate toxins that the body stores in the liver and kidneys, and preventing the dangerous conditions that can occur when toxins are allowed to remain in the body. Also, frequent urination can eliminate excess water weight, and even reduce fat, since 4% of urine is usually fat deposits that would otherwise be stored somewhere else in the body!

A Few Words of Caution: Although there are clearly many benefits of using chicory for your health, you should not use excess chicory if you are pregnant, because there is a possibility that it can stimulate menstruation and possibly a miscarriage. Also, women should not eat excess chicory while breastfeeding, since insufficient research has been done on the transfer between mother and child through breast milk.

Furthermore, this plant is closely related to ragweed, marigolds, and daisies, so allergic reactions are not uncommon if you are also allergic to those species. Consult your doctor or get an updated allergy panel to be safe, and as always, whenever you add something new to your diet,  be sure to check with your doctor first. Finally, if you have gallstones, too much chicory can exacerbate the problem, so be sure to speak to your doctor if you have had gallbladder issues in the past.

Other than that, enjoy chicory extract in your food, coffee, or whatever other preparation brings you all of these wonderful benefits!

Health Benefits of Chicory Root

Chicory root has a long history of providing support to liver problems. Ancient Romans used the herb to help cleanse the blood. Egyptians were known to consume chicory root in large amounts to help purify the liver and the blood. It’s popular today as a caffeine free replacement for coffee- you may have tried it if you’ve visited New Orleans.

Digestive Support

Chicory may provide direct functional support to the digestive reactions in the body. First of all, chicory root increases the flow of bile, which supports digestion. Because extra bile helps break down fats, chicory root may help optimize blood composition and is worth consideration by anyone seeking to achieve optimal liver and gallbladder health.

Secondly, organic chicory root contains inulin, a soluble fiber that feeds digestive flora in the intestines. Many plants contain inulin, but chicory root has the highest concentration. Nourishing the healthy flora in the intestines enhances digestion. Furthermore, since inulin content is not digestible, the lack of glucose can help promote optimal blood sugar levels while also increasing stool bulk and consistency to help eliminate toxins efficiently.

Antioxidant Activity

Many herbs are high in antioxidants, which, in plants, often come in the form of compounds called phenolics. Chicory is a rich source of these and the protective effects polyphenols on the cardiovascular system is widely acknowledged. Chicory coffee has repeatedly been assessed for resistance to redness due to its phenolics and caffeic acid content. ^[1] Adding chicory root to the diet of lab rats significantly increased antioxidant levels in the blood. Researchers believe the benefit of dietary supplementation with chicory is because of its polyphenolic (antioxidant) compounds. ^[2]

Against Harmful Organisms

Having shown potent activity, chicory root extract has generated interest for potential roleagainst harmful organisms. ^[3] An Italian study found chicory root extract to have fungal cleansing qualities in certain situations. ^[4] Chicory root is toxic to strains of Salmonella at high amounts and a 28-day rat study found no side effects from large servings of chicory root extract. ^[5]

Relation to the Liver

In addition to its beneficial antioxidant effect, chicory root provides functional support to the liver. ^[6] The Zoology Department at Mansoura University in Egypt concluded chicory has a promising role worth considering for halting oxidative stress and liver injury in some situations. ^[7] I have incorporated chicory root in Livatrex®, my 100% all natural formula that supports the normal process designed to detoxify the liver and gallbladder.

VESTIGE DIETARY FIBRE

Vestige Dietary Fibre is a special blend of 3 soluble fibres, Chicory root extract, Maltodextrin and Guar Gum. Soluble fibers attract water and form a gel, which slows down digestion giving a full feeling for long. Chicory root extract contains inulin which is the main source of fibre. It is a low calorie yet high fibre root extract that adds to the daily requirement of fibre to maintain digestive health. Inulin is a prebiotic, which supports the presence of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. A spoon (5 g) of Vestige Dietary Fibre contains 4 grams of soluble fiber 

Dosage: Adults & Children (12 years & above) 1 teaspoon per day & gradually increase fibre intake.

Maltodextrin is an artificial sugar (also known as a polysaccharide) that has a mild, sweet taste. It's usually created from corn and wheat but can also made from rice, potatoes and tapioca. While it's a commonly used food additive found in many types of packaged foods including seasonings, cake mixes and potato chips, the health effects of maltodextrin depend on the type and amount you consume. One type of maltodextrin is a simple carbohydrate. It contains calories and is used in supplements designed to provide a boost of energy. The second type -- resistant maltodextrin -- comes from the same source, but it goes through additional processing to make it indigestible. Resistant maltodextrin doesn’t provide energy, but it does deliver benefits similar to soluble fiber's. The term maltodextrin applies to any starch hydrolysis product containing less than 20 glucose units, and, for this reason, maltodextrin refers to a family of products instead of a specific product.

Maltodextrin is produced by using enzymes or acids to break down starches like corn, potatoes and rice into smaller pieces. The end result is a white powder that is easily digested and delivers nearly 4 calories per gram. When it’s added to foods, maltodextrin thickens the product, prevents crystallization and helps bind ingredients together. It’s found in many food seasonings, especially ones with an artificial smoke flavor, and is also used to make carbohydrate supplements, which are marketed to athletes and bodybuilders who need the sugar for extra energy. The same plant-based starches can be put through an additional process that changes the type of bonds connecting one unit of sugar to the next, reports Medallion Laboratories. Your body doesn’t have the enzymes to break these new bonds, so this process turns regular maltodextrin into a type of maltodextrin that resists digestion. As a result, it's similar to dietary fiber and doesn't provide calories or affect blood sugar. Resistant maltodextrin is also used as a food additive, but it fulfills different roles than regular maltodextrin does. For example, resistant maltodextrin helps improve the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners.

The Good: Though maltodextrin is technically a complex carbohydrate because of it's sugar content, it's  high glycemic index means it goes through the digestive system super fast. There are 2 instances where this is a good thing. 1) After a hard workout, maltodextrin will quickly get energy and protein (if accompanied) to your muscles. That's why the Results and Recovery drink has some in there along with Dextrose (a sugar that maltodextrin mimics).  2) During a long workout (aka marathons), maltodextrin's quick absorption by the body and low osmolality (It doesn't absorb much water) make it a good candidate to give energy while not dehydrating you.

The Bad: Outside of the aforementioned time-frames, maltodextrin is just as bad, sometimes worse, as having sugar. Easily absorbed carbs like maltodextrin and sugar get into your bloodstream fast. If there is nothing for all that blood sugar to do (i.e. repair muscle-tissue, give energy), it will get stored as fat. Contrast that with real complex carbs from whole grains, which are broken down and absorbed slowly, and maltodextrin looks more and more like sugar.

The Ugly: the ugly truth is that maltodextrin is hard to avoid. Even dieting companies overload their shakes and bars with the stuff because it's cheap, they don't have to label it as sugar, and it's fatty texture can replace real fats (both good and bad).

Resistant Maltodextrin Health Benefits

Resistant maltodextrin can have intestinal benefits. Photo Credit SomkiatFakmee/iStock/Getty Images

Resistant maltodextrin is fermented by good bacteria in your large intestine, which produces energy and helps keep the acid-base balance in the best range for the intestine to work properly. It ferments at a slower pace than soluble fiber, so you’re less likely to experience side effects such as gas, reports ADM Specialty Food Ingredients. Resistant maltodextrin may help keep you regular by increasing stool bulk. It also supports the growth of good bacteria. When a group of men took supplemental resistant maltodextrin, they excreted significantly more good bacteria, which is a good indication that the number of bacteria in the gut had increased, according to a study published in the July 2014 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Guar gum is a fiber from the seed of the guar plant.

Guar gum is used as a laxative. It is also used for treating diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity, and diabetes; for reducing cholesterol; and for preventing “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis).

In foods and beverages, guar gum is used as a thickening, stabilizing, suspending, and binding agent.

In manufacturing, guar gum is used as a binding agent in tablets, and as a thickening agent in lotions and creams.

How does it work?

Guar gum is a fiber that normalizes the moisture content of the stool, absorbing excess liquid in diarrhea, and softening the stool in constipation. It also might help decrease the amount of cholesterol and glucose that is absorbed in the stomach and intestines.

There is some interest in using guar gum for weight loss because it expands in the intestine, causing a sense of fullness. This may decrease appetite.

Possibly Effective for:

• Constipation. Taking guar gum by mouth appears to relieve constipation in some people.
• Diarrhea. Adding a specific guar gum product (Benefiber by Novartis Nutrition) to tube feeding formula given to critical care patients may shorten episodes of diarrhea and reduce the number of liquid stools. This guar gum product also appears to shorten episodes of diarrhea in children with diarrhea. However, guar gum does not seem to improve diarrhea in adults with cholera.
• High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). Taking guar gum seems to lowercholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol. Guar gum and pectin, taken with small amounts of insoluble fiber, also lower total and “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, but don't affect “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or other blood fats called triglycerides.
• High blood pressure (hypertension). Taking guar gum with each meal might reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. However, the effects of guar gum seem to be less than the effects of psyllium husk.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Taking guar gum by mouth might reducestomach pain and improve bowel function and quality of life in people with IBS.

Possibly Ineffective for:

• Weight loss. Taking guar gum by mouth does not seem to help people lose weight.

Insufficient Evidence for:

• Preventing diarrhea due to cancer treatment (chemotherapy). Early research suggests that adding guar gum to the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG does not reduce diarrhea in people receiving cancer treatment with the medication 5-fluorouracil.
• Diabetes. Some early research suggests that taking guar gum with meals might lower post-meal blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes. The effectiveness of guar gum in type 2 diabetes is unclear, as research in this area has been conflicting.
• Liver disorder in pregnancy (intrahepatic cholestasis). Early research suggests that taking a specific granulated guar gum product (Guarem) does not reduce itching or improve liver function in pregnant women with a specific liver disorder called intrahepatic cholestasis.
• Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of guar gum for these uses.

GUAR GUM SIDE EFFECTS & SAFETY

Guar gum is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth with at least 8 ounces of liquid. The water is important because it reduces the chance of choking or developing a blockage in the intestine.

Side effects include increased gas production, diarrhea, and loose stools. These side effects usually decrease or disappear after several days of use. High doses of guar gum or not drinking enough fluid with the dose of guar gum can cause blockage of the esophagus and the intestines.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking guar gum during pregnancy in typical amounts is POSSIBLY SAFE. But not enough is known about the safety of taking guar gum during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Guar gum might lower blood sugar levels in some people. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use guar gum.

Gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction: Don’t take guar gum if you have a condition that causes obstruction or narrowing of your esophagus or intestine.

Low blood pressure: Guar gum might lower blood pressure. In theory, taking guar gum might make blood pressure become too low in people with low blood pressure.

Surgery: Because guar gum might affect blood glucose levels, there is a concern that it might interfere with blood glucose control during and after surgery. Stop taking guar gum at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.