What Are Sugar Alcohols? (2024)

FAQs

Are sugar alcohols bad for you? ›

With the exception of erythritol, which is best avoided (more on this below), sugar alcohols are usually not bad for you if consumed in moderation. But if you're consuming too much, or you have underlying digestive issues, then sugar alcohols can cause problematic side effects.

Identifying Them. Common sugar alcohols are mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, isomalt, maltitol and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH). Sugar alcohols are not commonly used in home food preparation, but are found in many processed foods.

Sugar alcohols are generally less sweet and contain fewer calories than sugars. They also affect blood sugar levels less significantly, making them a suitable alternative for people with diabetes. Additionally, they're not linked to tooth decay and may even help prevent it.

Sugar Alcohols Have a Key Role in Pathogenesis of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Whole Blood and Liver Tissues.

Stevia can be found in stores under the names PureVia or Truvia. While stevia does come from a plant, highly refined stevia, unlike sugar alcohols, does not contain calories or carbs, but is found in nature and not manufactured like sugar substitutes. This makes it difficult to place stevia in one specific category.

There's increasing scientific evidence that erythritol and other artificial sweeteners can be bad for your health. Recent research shows erythritol may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death. But erythritol is on the list of "Generally Recognized as Safe" foods by the FDA.

Sugar alcohols are low in calories and carbs, but, depending on the type, aren't free of them. So, it's still possible to gain weight when you're eating foods that contain sugar alcohols, especially if you eat them in excess.

Here, we found that erythritol exacerbated gut inflammation by promoting macrophage infiltration and inducing M1 macrophage polarization, thus increasing gut leakage during colitis triggered by acute dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) treatment.

Two popular sweet swaps are erythritol and monk fruit. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol, while monk fruit (luo han guo) comes from an Asian fruit. Both are non-nutritive, zero-calorie sweeteners. Here's a quick rundown of how erythritol and monk fruit compare, so you can decide which one (if either) is right for you.

Sugar alcohol is a carbohydrate. Even though it's impact on blood sugar is less than that of real sugar, it can raise blood sugar levels if you consume too much of it. Read the Nutrition Facts label on everything you eat, including food products that are sugar-free or calorie-free.

What are a few symptoms of consuming too many sugar alcohols? ›

But because sugar alcohols aren't completely absorbed, if you eat too many you might get gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Foods that have mannitol or sorbitol in them include a warning on the package that eating a lot of these foods could make them act like a laxative.

Erythritol is an indigestible carbohydrate called a sugar alcohol. But don't worry, it's neither sucrose (sugar) nor ethanol (alcohol). It's a completely different molecule produced through a natural fermentation process.

The safe recommended intake of sugar alcohol intake is 10-15 grams per day. Like many other ingredients, including sugar, sugar alcohols should be eaten in moderation. Not only can they affect your GI system, but in some cases, some sugar alcohols can contribute to spikes in blood sugar.

Sugar alcohols are low in calories and carbs, but, depending on the type, aren't free of them. So, it's still possible to gain weight when you're eating foods that contain sugar alcohols, especially if you eat them in excess.

Because sugar alcohols are hard for the body to digest, the effect on blood sugar levels is less than standard sugar. When counting carbohydrates for products made with sugar alcohols, subtract half of the grams of sugar alcohol listed on the food label from the total grams of carbohydrate.