What Are Sugar Alcohols?

Great article. Very helpful. Thanks so much!! Report

Great info! Report

great help Report

I am an optimist.
It does not seem too much use being anything else.
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I really want to stay away from all artificial sugar. I am addictive to the sweet taste of anything with sugar in it. If I have artificial sugar in candy or soda I believe it will trigger my sugar craving. Once triggered it takes a while to recover for me. Report

I def have a problem here..read my 1st blog..its short. Report

I can only eat one kind of sugar-free candy (if I don't eat too much at one time) without getting the runs. I've only looked at the ingredients of that kind which has malitol. I wonder if the others have several types of sugar alcohols. Report

Does anyone else have this problem? Sugar alcohol or anything with sugar alcohol makes me very nauseated and sick. I have tried different items, when I start to feel the nausea, I look at the ingredients and always have an issue with the sugar alcohol. I am unable to consume anything with sugar alcohol, anyone else experience this? Thanks Report

I find the sugar alcohol gives me intestnal problems. Splenda is the only artifical sweetener that doesn't give me problems even though I have about 8 ounces of ice tea with equal once a day. My doctor doesn't recommend any artifical sweeteners, He feels small amount of regular sugar and watching the carbs is better. Report

"For some people, consuming certain sugar alcohols in excessive amounts may cause gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, bloating and diarrhea."

Well, if you consider eating 2 pieces of candy that contain sugar alcohols to be excessive, ok. Any time I have ever tried sugar alcohols, I get sick. It doesn't matter how small a serving of whatever the food that I am eating is. Everyone I know who has tried sugar alcohols have had the same reaction. I can hardly say that my exposure to the effects of sugar alcohol is representative of people in general, but I would caution anyone trying them for the first time to try VERY limited amounts. Report

I can use Equal but Spenda and similar products make me sick. I get diarrhea but that could be related to having a history of ulcerative colitis. Report

A couple of years ago I was extremely sick. After a lot of testing it was determined I am allergic to these sweeteners. Splenda and Equal are no problem for me. Report

A while back I decided to try some of the name-brand chocolate candies that are sugar-free. They contain sugar alcohols. The result? gas, bloating, diarrhea - and I only ate a couple of pieces.

If you're interested in what sugar alcohols really are, google. Here's one explanation. Choose for yourself.

http://www.ynhh.org/about-us/sugar_alcoh
ol.aspx Report

I use them sometimes. And for those people who say they're poisonous to dogs, so is your diet! You may NOT feed a dog people food and expect it to be okay. Ask any vet. This is unacceptable. And the same goes for cats. The human diet is poisonous to cats as well. These animals are not us. Do not give them any of your food, feed them food that is formulated for them. Their dietary needs are unique to their respective species. Report

I a diabetic have been for about 14 years and became insulin dependent about 3 years ago. These alcohol sugars that are spoken of and touted as being "generally safe for human consumption" explains NOTHING!!! What are they? Where EXACTLY are they derived from.? What chemical processes did they go through to reach their "consumable" state? What chemicals are present in them because they are obviously NOT natural? As an insulin dependent diabetic, I am of course very aware and careful about the foods I eat. I basically follow a modified Paleo-Diet and it really seems to help with maintaining a healthier blood sugar level. I try not to use any artificial anything in my cooking and that includes any pre-packaged foods (which I rarely purchase and when I do, they are very few and far between)and I only use regular table sugar or honey to sweeten whatever the recipe may call for. As a general rule though, I hardly add sugar or honey to anything though. I find other natural methods of adding sweetness (and hopefully a few nutrients as well) by using fruits as garnishments and cooked as glazes, using the fruits' natural juices as the actual glaze itself with chunks of fruits for texture interest, fiber and nutrients. Alcohol sugars...no thank you! Sticking to the natural stuff has made me a healthier me. I'd rather have a very small amount, basically a taste, maybe a tablespoon or two of whatever the treat made with real sugar may be rather than have a lot of the treat made with artificial sweeteners a.k.a. alcohol sugars, and fill my system with chemicals. Think people, think! Don't just eat what is fed to you. Take charge and eat what you KNOW is good. Report