SUGAR ALCOHOLS

This is the chemical makeup of sugar alcohol.

CHEMICAL FORMULA FOR SUGAR ALCOHOL

FACTS

• It is 60-70% as sweet as natural sugar
• Sugar alcohol still affects blood sugar levels, just less than sucrose would
• There are 7 kinds of sugar alcohols, Sorbitol, Xylitol, Maltitol, Isomalt, Lactitol, Mannitol, Erythritol, and Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysates (HSH)

FACTS CONTD.

• Excessive consumption may create a laxative effect from the fermentation, as well as pain in the abdominal region

BENEFITS OF SUGAR ALCOHOLS

• Sugar alcohols are not acted upon by bacteria in the mouth, so it will not cause tooth decay
• Incomplete absorption in the small intestine causes the sugars to be better for diabetic diets
• Lower calorie per gram count

DISADVANTAGES

• Most foods that contain sugar alcohols still contain high amounts of fats, carbohydrates, and calories, meaning that most sugar free food with sugar alcohols are still not very healthy
• There's often more trans or saturated fats in "sugar free" food
• Sugar free foods that use sugar alcohol are generally more expensive

SOURCES

• http://www.foodinsight.org/Sugar_Alcohols_Fact_Sheet
• Hubert Schiweck, Albert Bär, Roland Vogel, Eugen Schwarz, Markwart Kunz, Cécile Dusautois, Alexandre Clement, Caterine Lefranc, Bernd Lüssem, Matthias Moser, Siegfried Peters "Sugar Alcohols" Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2012, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_413.pub3
• http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-...

QUESTIONS

WHY ARE SUGAR ALCOHOLS BETTER FOR DIABETIC DIETS THAN SUCROSE?

• Because sugar alcohols have less of an effect on blood sugar levels than sucrose
• Because the bacteria in teeth don't react to it
• Because it has no effect on blood sugar levels

WHAT NUTRITIONS NULLIFY THE HEALTHY ASPECT OF SUGAR ALCOHOLS?

• High amounts of carbohydrates
• High amounts of sodium
• Low amounts of fat

HOW DOES SUGAR ALCOHOL DEVELOP A LAXATIVE EFFECT?

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