Schwelm, May 2017 – During Vitafoods, Taiyo presented new varieties of its all-natural, soluble dietary fiber Sunfiber®, which can now also be used as a sweetener. At the same time, the company showed solutions that contribute to balanced blood sugar levels. The sugar-like, mild taste profile of Sweet-Sunfiber® and Sunfiber®-Matcha honey, as well as their special technological properties, give end products a pleasant sweetness and texture. In addition, consumers benefit from the health-boosting advantages of the prebiotic fiber.
The Sweet-Sunfiber® compound combines Sunfiber® with isomalto-oligosaccharide, a natural component of honey or sugar cane, which provides foods with a sugar-like sweetness profile. Due to its non-cariogenic properties, isomalto-oligosaccharide is tooth-friendly and convinces with a low glycemic index. It gets metabolized more slowly than normal sugar, which is why blood glucose levels rises less sharply too. This healthy alternative to conventional sugars helps to reduce blood sugar spikes and decrease the amount of insulin released in the body. Especially important for diabetic patients, a lower insulin reaction is also a prerequisite for effective weight management.
In addition, the fiber in the functional compound has various prebiotic properties, promoting the growth of short-chain fatty acids in the colon, which, in the long-term helps to prevent nutrition-related diseases.
The Sunfiber® range also offers optimized technological benefits. The ingredients are highly water soluble, stable at different pH levels and temperatures, and can therefore be used for a variety of applications, such as dairy and bakery products, meats and sausages, beverages, ice-creams and confectioneries.
The bio-certified Sunfiber®-Matcha Honey convinces with an exciting mixture of sweetness and a refreshingly herbal green tea flavor. In addition, it is a healthy alternative to saccharose; Matcha is known for its antioxidant activity, whereas honey has antibacterial properties.
Dr Stefan Siebrecht, Managing Director of Taiyo GmbH, comments: “Whether for health reasons or as a part of a diet, more and more consumers are reducing their sugar consumption. As a result, the demand for reduced sugar products or foods with alternative sweetening solutions is increasing. Taiyo recognizes these consumer demands and now offers sweet Sunfiber® varieties, functional ingredients that have a balanced sweet profile. At the same time, they provide well-tolerated dietary fibers and can be used in many applications.”
The Sunfiber® portfolio qualifies as an organic material, is non-GMO and a 100% gluten-free product. It is Kosher and Halal certified and perfectly suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
