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Should You Avoid These Sneaky Sugar Substitutes?

It seems like more natural products are using sugar alcohols like erythritol lately. Are they healthier than sugar?

You’re definitely right: there are many products touted as healthy and sugar-free that now list mysterious ingredients that end in “-tol.” Those—like xylitol and erythritol—are all sugar alcohols. (Tricky label fact: Even products that market themselves as being made with stevia often contain more erythritol than stevia.)

While I don’t think they’re as bad for your body as straight-up white sugar or artificial sweeteners like Splenda or aspartame, I generally recommend avoiding them for a couple of reasons.

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Featured

  The Ugly Truth about Artificial Sweeteners & Sugar Alcohols

Artificial sweeteners unfortunately aren’t the only thing to watch out for…Sugar alcohols, a manufactured carbohydrate often used as an alternative sweetener to sucrose (aka common table sugar), may be our newest enemy.

 Sugar Alcohols Are in Many Sugar-Free Foods. What Are They?

And are they better for you than regular sugar?

 Top Reasons Sugar Alcohols May Not Be a Good Sugar Substitute

If you’re trying to cut back on the amount of sugar you eat, you may turn to foods with sugar substitutes rather than sugar. But are these sugar alcohols really a healthy alternative?

Articles of Interest

A Crash Course in Sugar Alcohol

Why choose products that use sugar alcohol versus regular sugar? There are actually a lot of advantages to choose sugar alcohol. The most obvious benefit being that it doesn’t have as many calories as regular sugar. Another advantage is that sugar alcohols are more slowly and not completely absorbed by the body.

Are Xylitol, Sorbitol, and Other Sugar Alcohols Safe Replacements for Sugar?

Unlike artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols aren’t completely calorie-free, because we are able to digest and absorb them to some extent. The absorption rate varies among sugar alcohols, from about 50% for xylitol to almost 80% for sorbitol, depending on the individual. Erythritol is almost completely absorbed, but is not digested, so it provides almost no calories.

Did You Know That Sugar Alcohol Can Cause Digestion issues?

We do not use sugar alcohol to sweeten because of the adverse affects. Sugar Alcohol (a form of carbohydrate) is not easily digestible and is a common cause of upset stomach. Once in the intestinal tract, the sugar alcohol will meet bacteria that ferments it, releasing gas, which leads to bloating, cramps, pain, and/or diarrhea. Many ‘diet’ ice creams turn to sugar alcohols like xylitol, erythritol and sorbitol to sweeten but they can leave a bad aftertaste and cause digestive issues.

Erythritol, xylitol, and stevia: an answer to fructose intolerance?

People with a fructose intolerance are often reluctant to consume foods containing sucrose, the chemical name for table sugar, since the compound consists of 50% fructose (and 50% glucose). Instead, sufferers opt for expensive sugar substitutes that are often specifically marketed as fructose-free alternatives. Here we take a closer look at three substitutes – xylitol, erythritol, and stevia – and assess their pros and cons compared to regular household sugar.

How sugar alcohols affect metabolic health

You'll often see these sweeteners in low- or no-sugar foods, but are they a healthy replacement for natural sugar? Here’s what we know.

Sugar Alcohol: What Is It and Is It Keto-Friendly?

The term sugar alcohol may seem a bit confusing — for one thing, it’s not sugar… nor is it alcoholic. Wait, what? There are plenty of other queries you may have relating to sugar alcohol, too:

Sugar Alcohols as Sugar Substitutes in Food Industry

However, their sweetness varies from 25 % to 100 % as compared with sucrose, so they are usually combined with intense sweeteners or sugar in order to obtain the required flavor and level of sweetness. Additionally, they promote mouthfeel and eliminate improper taste. Therefore, they can be used as reduced-calorie sugar alternatives.

Sugar alcohols. Friend Or Foe?

Sugar alcohols are also resistant to metabolism by the bacteria in the mouth which break down sugars and starches to release decay-causing acids. As a result, sugar alcohols in general are considered not to promote tooth decay. Studies have indicated that xylitol in particular may actually help to prevent tooth decay……AMAZING.

Sugar Alcohols: A Guide To Natural Alternative Sweeteners

They started out as substitutes for people with special health needs, but over time, they became a popular choice for the general public. Even you may be consuming them without you realizing it. Some of the most commonly used ones are erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH), and isomalt.

Sugar Alcohols: Different Forms and Uses

Sugar alcohols (or polyols) are ingredients primarily used as sweeteners and bulking agents. We don’t normally use them at home in food preparation, but they are usually found in various products such as food, beverage, supplements, etc. Manufacturers use them to sweeten their products and decrease calorie content at the same time.

Sugar substitutes: Is one better or worse for diabetes? For weight loss? An expert explains

Sugar alcohols are often found in toothpaste, chewing gum, and some “sugar-free” foods. They are carbohydrates with a chemical structure that resembles sugar, but also the components that make them an alcohol. They are about 25-100% sweeter than sugar and have a similar taste. But here is the catch: They are not calorie free

The sour truth about sugar alcohols

It’s clear that sugar alcohols are too good to be true. But it’s also evident that traditional sucrose is just as bad, if not worse, than sugar alcohols. After all, regular old table sugar is one of the major factors that created our current obesity crisis. If every teaspoon is slowly destroying your health, are the low-calorie benefits really worth the cost? The answer is a resounding no.

What are Monk Fruit Extract and Sugar Alcohols? Everything You Need to Know About the Popular Sweeteners

Monk fruit (also known as luo han guo) are sweet, melon-like fruit native to China. The monk fruit extract is harvested from the juice of the fruit, and when combined with erythritol it creates an ideal sweetness that is low in calories, which has helped make it a popular sugar substitute in recent years. Sugar alcohols — which include erythritol, xylitol, mannitol, and sorbitol — are sugar substitutes that are added to many foods and snacks to boost sweetness without increasing calories. These carbohydrates feature a structure that yields a significantly lower caloric content than regular table sugar.

What Are Sugar Alcohols and Do You Have to Count Them?

One thing is for sure – sugar alcohols are a part of life when you’re avoiding sugar and keeping your carbs low, especially if you enjoy sweets. And who doesn’t? But, there is a lot of confusion around sugar alcohols. What exactly are they? Are sugar alcohols bad for you? How do you count them into your daily carbs? Do they taste okay or do I get that weird aftertaste?

What Are Sugar Alcohols, and Are They a Healthy Sugar Swap?

Sugar alcohols, or polyols, are carbohydrates. As the name implies, they are hybrids of sugar molecules and alcohol molecules. Some sugar alcohols, such as erythritol and sorbitol, occur naturally in foods like fruits and vegetables. However, the sugar alcohols that many companies use to sweeten foods are produced industrially in a variety of ways.

What are sugar alcohols? And why does MaryRuth’s use them in products?

Sugar alcohols, also called polyols, are carbohydrates that are not completely metabolized by the body, converting to glucose more slowly than other carbohydrates and requiring little to no insulin to be metabolized. For example, xylitol, one sugar alcohol that we use, has 40% fewer calories than sugar, and is significantly lower on the glycemic index.

Resources

Ultimate guide on sugar alcohols

For people with diabetes or low carb/keto dieters, sugar alcohols can be tempting to use. Here's why and how to use them.