Sugar Alcohols in Sugar Free Foods

jlshea
jlshea Posts: 494 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've been noticing since becoming more of a label reader that sugar free items such as: gum, puddings, certain candy does not contain "real" sugar it contains this sugar alcohol. I'm not finding a lot of information on it when I try to research it.

Obviously its not something you want to eat a ton of just like normal old school sugar but I'm so curious on what the pros and cons are vs real sugar. What makes it better than real sugar?

Replies

  • HeavenlyBri
    HeavenlyBri Posts: 32
    Too much (or even a tiny bit for some people) can give you diarrhea or excessive gas. My body doesn't handle it well, that's enough of a reason for me to avoid it.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    Better than? Just that you're not getting calories from it. Most people don't have a digestive problem with sugar alcohols unless you eat a lot. Say, a family pack of candy. Those that do, often only have a problem with one or two of them and the rest aren't a problem at all <- this is me, I have a major problem with maltitol, only. I can't eat anything with maltitol or I end up in the bathroom for a couple of hours. Any of the others seem to be fine, not that I go out of my way to get them. I'd rather just have the sugar.

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