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Maltodextrin Alternatives for Weight Gain?


Arion
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Maltodextrin Alternatives for Weight Gain?

 

 

I've noticed many commercial weight gain drinks contain maltodextrin.

 

And I've read here some are adding maltodextrin to their protein drinks for additional calories for weight gain.

 

From a more healthy perspective, the following foods seem like they would be a better alternative since they are available organic.

 

Maltodextrin is made from corn. Most commercial corn comes from GMO corn.

 

The following numbers came from Nutrition Facts for each food. It is not clear how many grams of Maltodextrin make up 1 Teaspoon, so I will assume 4.

 

 

Maltodextrin 1 gram = 4 calories, 1 Teaspoon = 16 calories?

 

Dehydrated Sugar Cane Juice (Sucanat) 1 Teaspoon = 15 calories

 

Date Sugar 1 Teaspoon = 11 calories

 

Brown Rice Syrup 1 Teaspoon = 27.5 calories

 

Barley Malt Syrup 1 Teaspoon = 30 calories

 

 

It would seem the Brown Rice and Barley Malt Syrup are the best alternative due to the high calorie content.

 

I think all of these foods are classified as Complex Carbohydrates vs Simple Carbohydrates (Glucose).

 

I have eaten these foods in the past, but I have not put them to a real world test in terms of strategic weight gain.

 

Also whether adding them to a drink or directly to food in terms of flavor profile, ease of digestion, and amount is something I plan to test.

 

Eastern medicine classifies Brown Rice/Barley Malt Syrup, Dates, Sucanat as energy tonic foods and facilitate weight gain.

 

Reference: Planetary Herbology by Dr. Michael Tierra, The Yoga of Herbs by Dr. Vasant Lad

 

Any thoughts on this topic appreciated!

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I can't imagine that organic sugar really makes any difference in being healthy, but if that's important to you I have no argument against it other than cost.

 

Assuming that adding sugars is the right way to go, you may just want to avoid ones high in fructose (such as agave) sinces there's supposedly a daily limit to what the liver can process.

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I purchased a jar of Organic Brown Rice Syrup by Lundberg Farms today

 

The label lists 1 Teaspoon = 25 calories

 

I added 1 Tablespoon to 1 cup of unsweetened hemp milk and 4 tablespoons of hemp protein powder

 

The flavor profile was very good and no stomach upset

 

1 Tablespoon rice syrup 75 calories

 

1 Cup unsweetened hemp milk 60 calories

 

4 Tablespoons hemp protein 130 calories

 

Total 265 calories

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I purchased a jar of Organic Brown Rice Syrup by Lundberg Farms today

 

The label lists 1 Teaspoon = 25 calories

 

I added 1 Tablespoon to 1 cup of unsweetened hemp milk and 4 tablespoons of hemp protein powder

 

The flavor profile was very good and no stomach upset

 

1 Tablespoon rice syrup 75 calories

 

1 Cup unsweetened hemp milk 60 calories

 

4 Tablespoons hemp protein 130 calories

 

Total 265 calories

 

I forgot to add 1 medium Banana = 100 calories

 

Total = 365 calories

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Do you have a good blender? Dates would be a much healthier way to add calories and sugar to a diet than using a processed sugar.

 

Yes, I have a good blender

 

Fresh dates are on my "building foods" list

 

As the title of this thread implies, I'm exploring alternatives to maltodextrin

 

Thanks for the insight

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