How emulsifiers can alter your gut microbiota

When looking at the ingredients of most store-bought flavored milks you will encounter things like gum and, in some cases, also carrageenan, a type of emulsifier which also gives it a light pink color. Store bought ice cream, mayonnaise, chocolate, margarine and bread all contain emulsifiers for various reasons. So it is important to understand what they are.

Emulsifiers are simply substances that are added to foods - in other words additives - to improve taste, looks, texture and durability. For example, they help liquids that generally do not mix together (immiscibles) - like oil and water - blend. Some emulsifiers are derived from natural substances, some others are synthetic. An example of widely used natural emulsifiers are lecithin, derived from soybeans, and pectin, which comes from fruits, like apples and pears. 

Emulsifiers like carrageenans and gums are common in store-bought flavored milks.

How do they affect our health? By altering our intestinal microbiota. In fact, white lecithin seems to be safe, there is growing concern not only about synthetic emulsifiers, but also carrageenans and gums (which are very common in nut milks) as they can affect microbiota density. In fact, although they cannot be considered toxic and nor do they alter genetic makeup, they may affect not only the composition, but also the function of our intestinal microbiota leading to chronic gut inflammation. 

As always it is important to read the ingredients list and consume foods that are as clean as possible, as they do play a major role in keeping our gut healthy. Recently I started “making” my own nut milk. Since I discovered Joi, which contains only one ingredient, I can make just what I need for a whole week. I can control the density by adding less water and making it more creamy and don’t waste anything. They have almond, cashews, hemp and oat powder. 

Try it and let us know what do you think!