What is isomalt and its health benefits?

What is isomaltose and its health benefits?

In modern life, people pay more and more attention to healthy food, and isomaltose, as a new type of functional sugar, has gradually entered people's field of vision. What is isomaltose? What are its unique properties? What are the health benefits? This article will answer these questions in detail.

What is isomaltose?

Isomaltose (Isomaltose) is an oligosaccharide, which belongs to the isomers of maltose. It consists of a maltose molecule and a fructose molecule linked by an α-1,6 glycosidic bond. Isomaltose was originally discovered from barley, but due to its unique properties, it can now be prepared in large quantities in the laboratory by enzymatic hydrolysis techniques.

Unlike ordinary sucrose, isomaltose has a lower sweetness, but has a good taste and stability. Its metabolic pathways in the human body are also different, which makes it have a wide range of applications in the field of health food.

Isomaltose Health Benefits

1. Promotes gut health

Isomaltose, as a prebiotic, can promote the growth of intestinal beneficial bacteria, thereby improving the intestinal microecological balance. Studies have shown that moderate intake of isomaltose can increase the number of bifidobacteria and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria, thus preventing intestinal problems such as constipation and diarrhea.

2. Regulate blood sugar levels

Isomaltose has a low glycemic index (GI), which means it does not raise blood sugar as quickly as regular sucrose. Isomalt is a healthier alternative for people with diabetes or those who need to control their blood sugar. It can help maintain stable blood sugar levels while meeting the demand for sweetness.

3. Enhance the immune system

Isomaltose also has some immunomodulatory effects. It can enhance the body's immunity by stimulating the activity of intestinal immune cells. This is of great significance for the prevention of colds, flu and other diseases.

4. Improve skin health

Isomaltose is also believed to be beneficial for skin health. It can help regulate sebum secretion and reduce the occurrence of acne and acne. Isomaltose also has a certain antioxidant effect, which can delay skin aging and make the skin more smooth and delicate.

Isomaltose compared to other sugars

To better understand the advantages of isomaltose, we can compare it to other common sugars:

• Compared with sucrose: isomaltose sweetness is lower, but the glycemic index is lower, more suitable for the need to control blood sugar crowd.
• Compared with fructose: isomaltose metabolic pathway is different, not like fructose as the liver burden.
• Compared with maltose: isomaltose structure in the intestinal absorption rate is slower, which is more conducive to blood sugar stability.

How to consume isomaltose?

Although isomalt has many health benefits, it does not mean that it can be consumed indefinitely. Generally speaking, the daily intake should be controlled at about 10-20 grams. It can be ingested by eating foods containing isomalt, such as maltitol, oligosaccharide drinks, desserts, etc.

Summary

Isomaltose, as a new type of functional carbohydrate, not only has moderate sweetness, but also has many health benefits. It promotes gut health, regulates blood sugar levels, boosts immunity and improves skin health. Isomalt is an ideal choice for people who need to control their blood sugar or want to improve their gut health.

If you have other questions about isomaltose, or want to know more about healthy food, please feel free to follow our article and get more professional advice.