What are sugar alcohols? Sugar alcohols contain less calories than sugar and are widely used as refined sugar alternatives. Do you know sugar alcohol side effects and the products that incorporate sugar alcohols?
Sugar alcohols are employed as sugar substitutes in sugar-free and low-sugar foods. Despite the name ‘sugar alcohols’, they contain neither sugar nor alcohol! They are glucose naturally and their structures match the structures of sugar and alcohol.
Sugar Alcohols.
Sugar alcohols are alias polyols. One g of table sugar (sucrose) or fructose or lactose contains 4 calories while one gram of sugar alcohol contains 0 – 3 calories (average 1.5 calories per gram). Thus they contain less calories than sugar. Foods containing sugar alcohols are labeled as ‘sugar free’. Sugar alcohols are termed as reduced calorie sweeteners or sugar substitutes. These days, protein bars, ice creams and sweets, that contain sugar alcohols, are available for diabetics and just in case you want to follow a low carb diet. Use of sugar substitutes like saccharin or aspartame may prove to be beneficial for diabetics ; but it must be noted that excessive consumption of sugar substitutes usually leads to side effects. These days, sugar substitutes are present in many processed foods, hard candies, cookies, chewing gums, soft drinks, throat lozenges, toothpastes and mouthwash solutions, etc. xEOL.
Sugar alcohols do not contain ‘ethanol’ that is present in intoxicant. Sweetness of sugar alcohols vs . sugar is different for every variety. So the amount of sugar substitutes used may vary from dish to dish, depending upon having a. Fruits and vegetables contain natural sugar alcohols.
Benefits of sugar alcohols are long familiar. They do not cause dental caries and so are good for sugarless mints and chewing gum. Being low in smalls calorie, they promote weight loss. They help avoid sudden rise and fall in blood sugar levels. Thus, they cause less variations in blood glucose levels. They are not completely absorbed by the body. Sugar alcohols in hard candies or chewing gum produce a cooling sensation in the mouth due to heat absorbing reaction. But, the condition of sugar alcohols in what you eat needs to be monitored.
Side effects of Sugar Alcohol
Variations in Blood Glucose levels : Though sugar alcohols promote stable blood sugar levels, they are again and again use within larger quantities since they are not as sweet as sugar. So, they might have the same impact on blood sugar levels as sugar. The manufacturers should mention the ‘sugar alcohol reckoning’ on the product labels.
Stomach Problems : Seeing that sugar alcohols are not all the way up absorbed by the systema alimentarium, excessive utilization of sugar alcohols could potentially cause bloating, flatulence and diarrhea. Fermentation of sugar substitutes (whenever they are not completely absorbed) leads to gastrointestinal system problems. Sugar alcohol side effects may vary from individual to individual, depending upon the overall health of the person. It is estimated that if you consume more 20 g mannitol or more 50 g sorbitol daily, then you are likely to suffer from diarrhea. So, sugar-free or low-sugar foods including sugar alcohols should be consumed in limited quantities only (like food with sugar). Nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps and abdominal pain, diarrhea and dehydration are some of the common side effects of sorbitol.
Erythritol does not cause any side effect because it is absorbed in the small intestine. Some people may exhibit allergy after utilization of sugar alcohols. After continued use, the body sometimes gets adjusted to the new subject matter. For homemade recipes, you should use natural sugar substitutes like honey, agave nectar, maple syrup, etc.
Those who are suffering from spastic colon (IBS) or any other gastrointestinal condition and those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery should not consume sugar alcohols or should consume only a small quantity with extra care. This would help avoid worsening of the condition. Although artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin contain zero calories (no carbohydrates, so no effect on blood sugar levels), they should not be consumed wholesale as they exhibit alike side effects.
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