Dear customer

Baobab as a Glycemic Response Moderator 

Baobab is the African Superfruit that comes naturally as a dry powder, tastes fantastic, has an extraordinary backstory of positive social and environmental benefits in Africa, and a legendary reputation for its immune-boosting properties. But there’s much more to Baobab than just this. It also has a range of other functional attributes and health benefits that make it especially interesting to food and beverage manufacturers.   

This month we tackle the health property that has sparked most interest in Baobab Fruit Powder from the manufacturers of baked goods, bakery ingredients and health beverages. This is the combination of high fibre and polyphenols in Baobab that collectively moderate the postprandial glycemic response, lower the GI (glycemic index) of high GI foods, and increase the feeling of satiety.
 

Glycemic Response explained

“Postprandial glycemic response” describes the changes that occur in blood glucose levels after consuming a carbohydrate-containing food. Persistent fluctuations in blood sugar levels can lead to serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, when the body receives more glucose than it can use, it stores the excess sugar (which it is unable to metabolize) as fat. This is how the consumption of foods such as white bread, confectionery and white rice that elicit a strong glycemic response (sometimes referred to as a blood sugar “spike”), can often lead to weight gain.

This has resulted in the development and adoption of the glycemic index (GI), which is a way to rank carbohydrate-containing foods based on their potential to raise blood glucose. Carbohydrate foods are classified based on how they compare to reference food (either pure glucose or white bread). “Low GI” foods typically release glucose slowly into the bloodstream, leading to only moderate level increases in blood sugar levels. Higher GI foods will result in a more rapid rise in blood sugar levels. 

Foods that contain fat and/or fibre affect the overall postprandial glycemic response of a food by slowing down gastric emptying which, in turn, slows down the digestion of carbohydrates. If a high GI food (such as white bread) is combined with a low GI food (such as yogurt), there will be a more balanced fluctuation of blood glucose (source: American Diabetes Association). 

Fat and fibre are not the only things in foods that can help to reduce the postprandial glycemic response. Researchers have recently discovered that polyphenols have an effect on starch breakdown in foods. Tannic acid, catechins and phytic acid have all been found to reduce the digestibility of starch in vitro and in vivo. This has a significant effect in lowering the glycemic response of a meal.

Baobab as a Blood Sugar (Glycemic) Regulator

Baobab Fruit Powder is high in dietary fibre (over 50%) and polyphenols, both of which individually contribute to reducing glycemic response. In Baobab they also appear to be working in synergy to further enhance the fruit’s potency as a glycemic regulator. This was confirmed in a 2013 study, undertaken by researchers at Oxford Brookes University in the UK, who analysed the impacts on blood glucose levels of consuming Baobab Fruit Powder in conjunction with high GI white bread. Sure enough, adding the Baobab significantly slowed the rise of blood sugar levels 20-60 minutes after eating the bread.  

(SA Coe et al. “The polyphenol-rich baobab fruit reduces starch digestion and glycemic response in humans”. Nutrition Research. 2013 Nov; 33(11):888-96)

Baobab Increases Satiety & Reduces Hunger

In a 2017 clinical study, researchers at Oxford Brookes University found that Baobab may increase satiety. Subjects were given either a test smoothie consisting of 15g of Baobab Fruit Powder or a control smoothie without Baobab. Subjective ratings of satiety were taken on visual analogue scales immediately pre consumption and then post consumption, and energy intake at a post ad libitum meal was recorded. They discovered that subjective measures of hunger were reduced following the test smoothie compared to the control even though there was no significant difference in calorie intake. This research has positive implications for the use of Baobab for reducing hunger, possibly having a positive effect on weight maintenance.

(Garvey, R., Clegg, M. and Coe, S. (2017) 'The acute effects of baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata) on satiety in healthy adults', Nutrition and Health).

What does this mean for you?

Baobab Fruit Powder is an amazing asset for food and beverage formulators looking to reduce the GI of their products. Most fruits have a very low fibre content, and are consequently high GI themselves. Baobab, on the other hand, is very high fibre and therefore comparatively low GI itself. It also, because of the potent combination of fibre and polyphenols, can reduce the GI of foods to which it is added. So, if you are in the space of low GI foods, blood sugar management and healthy eating, why not consider trying Baobab Fruit Powder in your next product?

Our Newsletters
 

If you are new to our newsletters, our mission is to educate the food and beverage industry about Baobab Fruit Powder. Every few weeks we release an article focused on a different attribute of Baobab to help expand your knowledge. Our most recent articles generated a lot of interest and, in case you missed them, here they are again:

1. Baobab and Immune Protection in relation to COVID 19
2. Baobab, Responsible Sourcing and Social Impacts
3. Baobab Product Development Guide

About EcoProducts B'Ayoba
 

A joint venture between two leading Baobab Fruit producers, EcoProducts/B’Ayoba is Africa's only FairWild, Organic and FSSC 22000 Version 4.1 certified Baobab operation. We have impeccable social-impact credentials, providing a much-needed supplemental income to over 4,500 registered rural African harvesters and their families. Our supply chains are fully traceable and sustainable, with environmental and training programs in place to protect the Baobab Tree populations. As a result, we are a member of the Union for Ethical Biotrade. Our facility in South Africa has been audited under the FDA’s Foreign Suppler Verification Program (FSVP), a key requirement for all importers to the US.

• For US, Canadian & Latin American customers, we deliver from our Long Beach (California) warehouse. 
• For European and Middle Eastern customers, we deliver from our Bodegraven (Netherlands) warehouse.
• For Asian and Australasian customers, we ship directly from South Africa.

Kind regards