I was looking at the nutrition bars today and found this in the mutrition facts and I didn't know what it was. Does anyone know? Is it good? Bad? Also does anyone know where I can find out what some of the ingredients mean on the labels? Is there a book that has them listed? Some of them I have no idea even how to pronounce them!! LOL! Thanks!!
Dumb ?--What is sugar alcohol?
- Thread starter mckeev5
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Cathlete
Sugar alcohols aren’t really sugar or alcohol. Sugar alcohol used in many products is actually derived from high-grade maltose corn syrup. In fact, a sugar alcohol can look very much like a corn syrup. Though a process known as hydrogenation, the addition of hydrogen to the corn syrup, the "sugars" that make up maltose syrup are transformed from "sugar" into "itols or polyols" (polyhydric alcohols). So maltose, the sugar is now maltitol, the sugar alcohol. This polyol has a different chemical make-up than sugar and thus carries its new chemical name.
Polyols have other favorable attributes. Since maltose is now a sugar alcohol transformed into maltitol, it will metabolize in the body more slowly than sucrose (table sugar) and some maltitol will pass through the body without being metabolized at all. Thus, maltitol syrup will not cause the significant rise in blood sugar experienced when eating the same amount of sucrose.
For those individuals who are carbohydrate counting to control their blood sugar levels, still consider the total carbohydrates found on the food label. Remember that just because a product says sugar-free doesn’t mean it’s carb-free and the product may eventually contribute to the rise in blood sugar in the end.
Polyols have other favorable attributes. Since maltose is now a sugar alcohol transformed into maltitol, it will metabolize in the body more slowly than sucrose (table sugar) and some maltitol will pass through the body without being metabolized at all. Thus, maltitol syrup will not cause the significant rise in blood sugar experienced when eating the same amount of sucrose.
For those individuals who are carbohydrate counting to control their blood sugar levels, still consider the total carbohydrates found on the food label. Remember that just because a product says sugar-free doesn’t mean it’s carb-free and the product may eventually contribute to the rise in blood sugar in the end.
CathydsRNA
Cathlete
Sugar alcohols are actually alcohols derived from sugar. Not the types of alcohol you may be familar with such as ethanol or isoproponal but still alcohol chemically speaking. They taste sweet and that is why they are used in gumand candies. They typically are absorbed poorly if at all and are only metabolized inefficiently by you and bacteria (that's why they don't promote tooth decay)and won't add calories your body will actually see. Kind of like stealth calories. Still who knows what the long term effects are. As the above poster noted, they do cause gas and gastrointestinal distress in many individuals.
WD
Cathlete
I learned a lot about sugar alcohols when dh and I went out of town for our anniversary and I ate most of a small bag of sugar free hard candies. Boy, I was getting dressed up to go out dancing and those candies made me miserable for a couple of hours. I would say small amounts are alright. Just be careful when you eat them. I still find them in things that I forgot to look at. Recently, an Arizona no carb green tea with apple and cranberry. It had malitol and sorbitol in it. I sipped it a little at a time
Diane Sue
http://wd.1ww.us
Diane Sue
http://wd.1ww.us
CathydsRNA
Cathlete
Me too!!! Many many years ago when I took a trip with my parents, I took a bag of Sorbies (candy with sorbitol) to munch on during a 6 hr transcontinental flight. I had stomach cramps and the runs most of the flight. Was not fun.
WD
Cathlete
Now, I really have to sympathize with you on that one. A flight? What a nightmare!!!
Diane Sue
http://wd.1ww.us
Diane Sue
http://wd.1ww.us