Pectins are natural plant ingredients that are included in the water-soluble dietary fiber. Pectins can be found, among others in fruits, where they perform various functions. Industry uses their gelling properties, which is why pectins are most often used as an addition to jam or jellies. Pectins also have a he alth-promoting effect. Check what other properties pectins have and where they occur.
Pectinsare natural plant ingredients that are included in the water-soluble dietary fiber. Pectins are components of the plant cell wall (especially the middle lamina), and they are found in greater amounts in fruits. Pectins havegelling properties, so they are most often usedin the preparation of jellies, marmalades and fruit jams. Pectins also have a pro-he alth effect - primarily they promote the regulation of cholesterol and carbohydrate metabolism.
Contents:
- What are pectins? Pectin Functions
- Pectins - application in the food industry
- Pectins and cholesterol
- Pectins and carbohydrate metabolism
- Pectins and slimming
- Pectins in reducing diarrhea
- List of foods rich in pectin
What are pectins? Pectin Functions
Pectinsare polysaccharides (polysaccharides) found in the cell walls of plants. They are included in the dietary fiber fraction. They are chain-shaped polymers composed of many different sugars and D-galacturonic acid molecules. These natural substances were first discovered in 1790 in tamarind fruit, and in 1825 were isolated from apples. The name of pectins comes from the Greek "pectos", which means "to clot, harden". It indicates the basic physicochemical property of these substances, used in industry, i.e. the ability to gel. Pectins work:
Pectin can be found on the packaging of food products under the E440 symbol.
- gelling
- thickening
- emulsifying
which is why they are used in food production. The most famous foods containing these compounds are jams and jellies.
Pectins are also used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. All plants contain pectic compounds, but very varieddepending on the species, variety, degree of maturity and type of tissue.Pectinsin plants play a very important rolefunctions : they protect them from drying out, are responsible for porosity, pH and activate the immune system of plants, protecting them against microbial attacks .
Pectins - application in the food industry
Pectinsare used in the food industry. Their gelling properties are used in the production of jams, fruit jellies, confectionery fillings, concentrates, desserts, fruit preparations for dairy products and dietary foods with a reduced sugar content. In turn, stabilizing abilities are used in cloudy juices, nectars and drinks. Pectins are also added to cottage cheese, cream cheese and melted cheese, ketchup, mayonnaise and gluten-free supplements. They are also used as a glazing agent and to prevent the absorption of excessive amounts of fat. Pectins can also be carriers of bioactive substances.
The use of pectin in the food industry:
| Function | Food item |
| Thickening | Cream, fruit drinks, unfermented milk drinks with flavors |
| Stabilizing | Juices and nectars from pineapple and passion fruit |
| Thickening and / or gelling | Milk desserts, jams, jellies, marmalades, fermented milk drinks with flavors, ice cream, low-fat margarines, cheese and cottage cheese desserts |
| Glazing | Cocoa and chocolate products |
| Carrier | Additional and bioactive substances |
Pectins and cholesterol
Pectin as a soluble fiber has the ability to bind cholesterol in the intestines and prevent its absorption into the bloodstream. The recommended amount of pectin in cholesterol problems is 15 g per day. A 2014 study showed that pectins lower the rate of lipid digestion, which is due to their ability to bind to various substances in the digestive tract. Large fat particles are broken down more slowly into smaller ones, making them less accessible to lipid-digesting enzymes and excreting more from the body. A diet rich in pectin reduces the level of "bad" LDL cholesterol and the levels of cholesterol in the liver and blood. These conclusions were drawn from studies in rats and humans. One of them was conducted for 16 weeks on volunteers with a moderate or high risk of heart attack. Study participants supplemented with pectinobtained from grapefruit and did not introduce any lifestyle changes. There was an average decrease in total cholesterol of 7.6% and LDL cholesterol by 10.8%.
Pectins - properties, where can they be found?
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Pectins and carbohydrate metabolism
Pectins reduce the activity of enzymes that break down simple sugars and starch, so glucose is released into the bloodstream more slowly. This prevents spikes in blood sugar levels and, as a consequence, reduces the risk of insulin resistance, diabetes and weight gain. These properties have been confirmed by many scientific studies conducted at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. It is now known that pectins are an effective natural agent reducing the risk of carbohydrate disorders.
Pectins and slimming
Pectins bind with water. As a result, they contribute to increasing the volume of food content and prolong the feeling of fullness after a meal. They also reduce the rate at which the stomach empties. Consuming pectin products helps in losing weight also because it reduces blood glucose spikes and the insulin response (insulin secretion after a meal) - one of the very important factors contributing to weight gain.
In addition, pectins remove heavy metals from the body, prevent constipation, the formation of gallstones, atherosclerosis, the development of cancer, and also have antibacterial properties.
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Find out moreWorth knowingPectin obtained from plants can be purchased as a powder, ranging in color from white to light brown. They are odorless and have a sweetish flavor. They dissolve well in water and in solutions with the addition of large amounts of sugar.
Pectins in reducing diarrhea
In the case of diarrhea, the gelling properties of pectins are used. They cause water to bind, increase stool density and reduce the frequency of bowel movements. In addition, they bind to the bacteria that cause diarrhea, accelerate their excretion from the body and shorten the duration of the disease.
List of foods rich in pectin
The greatest amount of pectin is found in citrus fruit peels, soybean shells, seedless sunflower heads,sugar beet, mango skins and apple pomace. Industry often uses these sources of pectin extraction. Fruits and seeds of legumes have a much higher content than cereal grains. Young plants contain more pectins. On a daily basis, pectin in the diet can be found in:
- oranges
- grapefruit
- lemons
- peaches
- bananas
- puszkach
- apples
- plums
- blackcurrant
- jeżynach
- carrot
- sweet potatoes
- zucchini
How to obtain pectins yourself?
Pectins can be extracted from fruits at home. To do this:
1. Cut 1 kg of green sour apples into pieces. 2. Put them in a pot. Pour over 4 cups of water and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. 3. Boil for about 30 minutes until the water volume is halved 4. Squeeze the apple pieces through the cheesecloth. 5. Boil the fruit for another 20 minutes 6. Pour the resulting juice into decontaminated jars and refrigerate.
Sources:
1. Pińkowska H et al., Pectins - occurrence, chemical structure and properties, Wiadomości Chemiczne, 2014, 68, 683-7002. Waszkiewicz - Robak B., Pectins and their application in the food industry, http://www.e-bmp.webp.pl/Image/str_25.pdf3. Nowak K. et al., Pectins - polysaccharides of natural origin, Fermentation and Fruit and Vegetable Industry, 2004, 7-8, 69-704. https://draxe.com/pectin/5. Cerda J.J. et al., The effects of grapefruit pectin on patients at risk for coronary heart disease without altering diet or lifestyle, Clinical Cardiology, 1988, 11 (9), 589-5946. Espinal-Ruiz M. et al., Interaction of a dietary fiber (pectin) with gastrointestinal components (bile s alts, calcium, and lipase): a calorimetry, electrophoresis, and turbidity study, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2014, 62 ( 52), 12620 - 12630
7. https://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/dietary-fiber/pectins.php