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When reading the ingredients of various food products, we often come across ingredients that we can actually say little about. One of them, which is often found in a variety of foods, is glucose syrup. What is glucose syrup? How is it produced and what is its effect on the human body? You can learn all of this in the article below.
What is glucose syrup?
Glucose syrup is a mixture of glucose and low molecular weight polysaccharides. In this solution, glucose makes up 80 percent of the composition, and polysaccharides 20 percent. Glucose syrup is produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of starch. This starch, on the other hand, may be of various origins. The most common uses for the production of glucose syrup are wheat, potato or corn starch.
How does glucose syrup work?
Generally speaking, glucose syrup acts as a sweetener. Thanks to it, the products acquire a sweet taste, similar to what we get after adding sugar. However, the food industry uses glucose syrup for more than flavor purposes. Adding it to some products improves their consistency and color.
And how does glucose syrup work on the human body? First of all, it causes the blood sugar level to increase, and thus – a significant energy jump is felt, which, however, does not last long. Glucose, on the other hand, is a very specific substance that is absorbed throughout the human body and accumulated in the liver.
Where can you find glucose syrup?
Glucose syrup is a substance that is very commonly used in the food industry, so it can be found in many different products. Actually, it is impossible to list everyone to which this sweetener is added. However, it is worth remembering that it is especially often added to any confectionery products, such as cakes, cakes and other baked goods, as well as to sweets: candies, chocolates, bars, cookies and many other similar delicacies. Glucose syrup is also used particularly often by producers of juices and beverages, especially carbonated drinks. In addition, glucose syrup is also often found in bread, formula milk and a large number of processed products. These include fruit yoghurts, flavored cottage cheese, vegetable, meat and fish preserves, including, for example, canned food. In order not to exceed the daily dose of glucose syrup, it is always worth carefully reading the ingredients of the food products we buy. Glucose is also available on Medonet Market.
Glucose syrup and its influence on human health
At the beginning, it is worth emphasizing that glucose syrup is not the same substance as glucose-fructose syrup. The former is definitely safer for the human body than the latter. Glucose syrup consumed in rational amounts is unlikely to be harmful to human health. However, remember not to overdo it with its amount. Then, the negative effects of such consumption may actually appear. It should be remembered that glucose syrup is one of the simple sugars, and these, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, should not be consumed by more than 10 percent of the total daily calories.
Glucose syrup, on the other hand, is definitely harmful to people suffering from diabetes, because it suddenly and significantly raises blood sugar levels. People who are on various types of slimming diets should definitely give up this form of sweetening.
How to make glucose syrup yourself?
Few people are aware that glucose syrup can be made at home. Such glucose syrup can effectively replace sugar and is suitable, among others, for cakes, coatings, as well as for the preparation of confectionery decorations for cakes or desserts. Thanks to the glucose syrup, it is possible to obtain, among other things, the perfect smoothness of the mass or cream, which is very difficult to achieve with the use of ordinary sugar.
To prepare glucose syrup, we need:
- 350 g of water,
- 700 g sugar,
- lemon juice,
- 3 g of baking soda.
The preparation of glucose syrup should start with boiling the water and pouring all the sugar specified in the recipe into it. Then keep mixing until the sugar dissolves. When this happens, we need to add baking soda and lemon juice. This mixture should be simmered over low heat, covered for about 30 to 40 minutes, until it is thick and slightly golden in color. When our glucose syrup has cooled down, you can pour it into, for example, a jar and use as desired.