Dextrose is often used in bread products as a sweetener, and it can be found more commonly in items such as corn syrup and processed foods. But if you are one of those on the keto diet, you may be asking yourself – is dextrose keto friendly?
Keep reading to find out if dextrose is a popular sweetener in the keto community, and is dextrose a keto friendly or not?
We’ll also take a comprehensive look at the health benefits of dextrose on the body and its side effects.
What Is Dextrose?
Dextrose is a simple sugar made from corn and chemically identical to Glucose.
Dextrose also has medicinal purposes as it is dissolved in solutions given intravenously, and it can be combined with other medications, or used to increase a person’s blood sugar level.
Because Dextrose is a simple sugar, the body can quickly use it for energy.
Simple sugars can quickly raise blood sugar levels, and they often lack nutritional value.
Examples of other simple sugars are glucose, fructose, and galactose. Products typically made with simple sugars include refined sugar, white pasta, and honey.
Where does dextrose come from?
Dextrose is found naturally in nature.
It is produced by plants through the process of photosynthesis, and in the body of animals, it is formed through the more complex decomposition of carbohydrates.
It is relatively easy to make artificial glucose from the starch of grains like wheat, corn, and rice.
Sources of dextrose
As mentioned, dextrose is found in many places in nature around us, especially in fruits. It is found in grapes, apricots, strawberries, dried prunes, and figs.
Dextrose can be obtained from mushrooms, onions, and spinach. Buckwheat, einkorn and honey can also be a source of dextrose.
Selection and storage of dextrose
Dextrose can be purchased mainly from speciality stores that offer a wide range of nutritional supplements. There it is offered in powder or tablet form.
When choosing dextrose, always pay attention to whether the substance has expired and whether the bag or container of dextrose is closed.
Store the powder itself or dextrose products in a cool, dry, dark place. Better in kitchen cabinets, away from children. Do not use the substance after the expiration date. The maximum shelf life is 3 years.
Where Exactly Is Dextrose Used?
Dextrose is used in the food industry in various fields:
** Production of non-standard food (sports, dietary and therapeutic) and various biological additives.
** Confectionery manufacturing. Bars and candies to which glucose has been added have a richer taste and color of the filling, and they stay soft for longer.
** Many soft drinks contain glucose, which modifies the taste to some extent. It is important to understand that she does not change him in any way and does not “hamper” – on the contrary, she supports him, showing the most subtle notes.
** Glucose is even in canned food – however, in them, it does not add flavor, but simply retains its natural color, which looks much nicer.
** Baked goods also contain glucose, which is added during the sugar fermentation step. The taste and aroma of the bread, as well as a certain color of the crust, are all the merit of glucose.
** In dairy products, dextrose is also included, however, only in its sweet forms, for example, in yoghurts.
** Sugar in ice cream is also often replaced with dextrose (this helps to save up to 30% of sugar in production).
This is important: dextrose lowers the freezing point of ice cream, which makes its structure more pleasant.
Important: you cannot replace all sucrose with dextrose, since such ice cream will melt too quickly, and it will not taste so pleasant.
Who should take dextrose?
Anyone looking for the energy of regular sugar can use dextrose. It is usually used by endurance athletes who constantly need fast energy during training. To do this, they consume special drinks.
Dextrose can also be used regularly for carbohydrate loading. Also, anyone looking to improve the performance of their post-workout sports products can use dextrose because it helps increase the absorption of other molecules (such as amino acids).
When Should You Take Dextrose?
1. When you are low on energy
You can take this product at different times of the day depending on your training plan. If you have not yet eaten and are concerned that you are low on energy, you may be encouraged to take pre-workout dextrose.
2. When doing endurance exercises
As mentioned above, low doses of dextrose can be used by endurance athletes during long, intense training sessions.
3. To improve the absorption of nutrients after exercise
To increase the absorption of other nutrients, you can simply add dextrose to your post-workout shake. If you practice carb cycling, then dextrose should be taken on a high-carb day.
Benefits Of Dextrose For The Body
D-glucose is an important source of energy in the body. It is one of the many components that are responsible for the balanced functioning of our body.
Its normal amount contributes to the prevention of many diseases and is also recommended to maintain energy tone.
If the level of dextrose in the body begins to decline sharply due to improper nutrition or unbalanced nutrition, the person’s thinking speed, concentration speed, and reaction decrease.
Dextrose and BodyBuilding
The main benefit of Dextrose is that it is absorbed very quickly and stimulates the release of insulin. Rapid absorption provides a quick release of energy, which is important for bodybuilders and athletes.
Insulin is a hormone that carries glucose into muscle cells and also delivers proteins, amino acids, and other essential nutrients such as glutamine and creatine.
There is a practice of mixing dextrose with creatine, which undoubtedly leads to increased strength and energy.
Creatine itself is one of the most popular and effective supplements athletes use to boost their energy levels.
Taking dextrose during periods of intense physical activity within reasonable limits does not harm the body.
But if the recommended daily doses are exceeded frequently and regularly, this substance can cause some side effects.
Before revealing the side effects of dextrose, let’s first know if dextrose is keto friendly.
Is Dextrose Keto Friendly?
Before answering whether or not dextrose is keto friendly, know that the goal of the keto diet is to stimulate ketosis.
Ketosis can occur when the body starts burning fat instead of glucose, so remember that glucose and dextrose are basically the same thing.
Quick answer … Is Dextrose Keto Friendly? Dextrose is not keto friendly as it is a high-carb sweetener that can kick you out of ketosis even if you eat it in small amounts.
Dextrose should be avoided on the keto diet because it is very high in net carbs (85 grams of net carbs per 100 grams).
It’s important to limit your net carbohydrate intake to 20-30 grams per day to stay in ketosis.
As an alternative to dextrose, you can use other natural keto friendly sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol.
Also, dextrose has been associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other negative effects.
Dextrose Side Effects
Although dextrose is important for the proper development of the body and our physical activity, it should not be taken in too large quantities, as it can cause health problems.
A sudden rise in dextrose in the body is a risk factor for diabetes.
In the long term, eating a lot of added sugar (dextrose) in the diet can lead to poor blood sugar control, so it’s best to monitor how much sugar you eat.
In addition, it can lead to memory damage, high blood pressure and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Unreasonable consumption of this monosaccharide in high doses can cause other serious illnesses such as stroke, for example.
Therefore, before taking dextrose in any dosage, you should consult a competent professional.
According to the Federal Drug Administration, dextrose injection may not be safe for patients with severe dehydration.
The Mayo Clinic also notes that there may be other unwanted side effects of dextrose, such as sudden changes in vision, severe headache, dizziness, and rapid breathing.
There is also a risk of electrolyte imbalance, fluid imbalance and vitamin B1 deficiency following intravenous dextrose administration in patients with severe nutritional deficiency.
Can you be allergic to dextrose?
Of course yes, some people are very sensitive to this substance and may suffer from allergic reactions, such as:
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Swollen skin
- Chronic hypotension
During pregnancy and lactation, dextrose can be taken if there are no contraindications to the supplement. It is important to consult a specialist before use.
Your safety is important to us, you can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Final recommendations: Is Dextrose Keto Friendly
Dextrose is a simple sugar made from corn, and corn is not keto friendly.
Dextrose is a sweetener high in net carbs and calories, so we recommend avoiding it on the keto diet.
Another reason to avoid dextrose on the keto diet. Dextrose works just like glucose in the body, as it is a natural monosaccharide and carbohydrate.
Also, don’t forget that dextrose may block your progress on keto and prevent you from achieving or maintaining ketosis even in small amounts.
Finding a keto-friendly sweetener isn’t as difficult as some find it, because you can easily replace dextrose with other safe, keto-friendly sweeteners.
You can get dextrose in powder form. It is sometimes used as a nutritional supplement by bodybuilders looking to gain weight and muscles.
The reason for this is that dextrose is naturally dense in calories and easy for the body to break down for energy.
Also, dextrose has a high glycemic index, which means that it is rapidly absorbed by the body and thus stimulates a faster insulin response. However, this may cause diabetes, which is a side effect of dextrose.
Avoid dextrose if you have:
- High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
- Low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia)
- Peripheral edema, or swelling in the Arms, Feet, or Legs
- Pulmonary edema, when fluids build up in the lungs