Ingredients

Learn about ingredients, their health benefits, and how they fit into various dietary approaches.

Absorption, metabolism, excretion, and health outcomes of sugar alcohols

November 29, 2022

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Prebiotic fiber: Why “Just Eat Real Food” isn’t as good of a mantra as you think.

November 29, 2022

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Guar Gum as a hidden source of Glutamate

September 10, 2021

[vc_row disable_element="yes"][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dozens of online resources have suggested that guar gum is a hidden source of glutamate, but this appears to be nothing more than a simple case of blatant misreporting and regurgitation of bad information.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Guar gum, the powdered endosperm from the seeds of the legume Cyamopsis tetragonolobus, is a polysaccharide galactomannan (carbohydrate) fiber that contains...

What is Allulose? Everything You Need to Know in 300 Words or Less

June 23, 2021

Allulose is a low-calorie (0.2 kcal/g) monosaccharide present in some foods in very small amounts, and is currently mass-produced through enzymatic conversion of fructose (the enzyme tagatose 3-epimerase converts fructose to allulose). It has been considered a therapeutic agent towards metabolic syndrome and type-II diabetes due to having antioxidant effects, inhibitory activity toward brush-border digestive enzymes, competes with glucose for entry into intestinal cells, and increases glucose...

Is propylene glycol alginate a safe food additive?

February 1, 2020

Propylene glycol alginate (PGA) is an ester of alginic acid, derived from brown seaweed, and food additive used to stabilize, thicken, and emulsify [1]. Brown seaweeds have been used as a food for centuries but it is only since 1929 that alginates have been manufactured on an industrial scale [2]. Chemically, propylene glycol alginate is an ester of alginic acid, which is derived from kelp. Alginic acid, also referred to as algin or alginate, is a hydrophilic or anionic polysaccharide...

Is MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) Paleo or Keto Friendly?

January 29, 2020

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is composed of sodium and the amino acid glutamate. Sodium is an essential mineral, and glutamate is the most abundant amino acid in the human brain and the most common neurotransmitter in the body [1]. MSG is a popular food additive due to stimulating savory taste receptors and giving food a “meatier” flavor [2, 3]. From a purely chemical standpoint, MSG is simply degraded into sodium and glutamate during the digestive process. The MSG food fears were born from a...

Can Sugar Cane Juice be Certified Paleo?

January 15, 2020

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Is Allulose Keto or Paleo Friendly?

October 5, 2019

One of the biggest challenges that people on the Keto, Paleo, or other low-carb diets face is finding alternatives for some of the food items that defined our eating habits for years. For example, while whole wheat bread is not compatible with people trying to limit their carb intake to 30 grams per day, it can be hard to change our breakfast habits if we have grown accustomed to eating toast for breakfast. Keto-friendly bread alternatives, however, would allow people on a low carb diet to...

What is Xanthan Gum and Is It Good for You?

June 30, 2019

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What is Xanthan Gum and Is It Good for You?

June 30, 2019

Xanthan gum is a common food additive found in many products. Should you be concerned about consuming it?