Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSugar Alcohol vs. SugarHow Its MadePros and ConsPopular TypesHow to Identify

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Sugar Alcohol vs. Sugar

How Its Made

Pros and Cons

Popular Types

How to Identify

Sugar alcohols are naturally found sweeteners derived from plants like fruits and vegetables. This sugar substitute contains fewer calories than traditional sugar and is less likely to cause your blood glucose levels to spike.As a result, sugar alcohols, like sorbitol and xylitol,have become more popular in many commercially available foods.

Sugar Alcohol vs. Sugar: Is One Better Than the Other?

If you’re looking to replace some of the sugar in your diet with sugar alcohol, it is important to understand the differences between the two. Sugar alcohols are carbohydrates that contain 1/2 to 1/3 of the calories of traditional sugar.

How to Reduce Sugar Intake

Sugar Alcohol With DiabetesWhile sugar alcohol may be a better option for people living with diabetes, remember that the ingredient is still a carbohydrate. While it doesn’t require much insulin to be metabolized, it may still impact your blood sugar levels.

Sugar Alcohol With Diabetes

While sugar alcohol may be a better option for people living with diabetes, remember that the ingredient is still a carbohydrate. While it doesn’t require much insulin to be metabolized, it may still impact your blood sugar levels.

One notable disadvantage of sugar alcohol is that your body cannot completely digest it. Instead, bacteria in your stomach cause this alternative sweetener to ferment, often leading to indigestion. People with gastrointestinal conditions, likeirritable bowel syndrome, may also find their symptoms are aggravated if they consume foods that contain sugar alcohol.

How Is Sugar Alcohol Made?

Heart Attack and Stroke RiskPeople with metabolic syndrome or other cardiac risk factors should be cautious about consuming erythritol. The sweetener has been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

People with metabolic syndrome or other cardiac risk factors should be cautious about consuming erythritol. The sweetener has been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Despite how it sounds, the alcohol in sugar alcohols should not be confused with the type of alcohol (ethanol) found in beverages like beer or wine. Instead, it is merely a type of organic compound that is found in a wide variety of substances. Consuming foods with sugar alcohols will not cause you to become drunk or experience any of the other side effects typically associated with alcoholic drinks.

Comparing the Pros and Cons

Consuming foods that contain sugar alcohols may provide several potential health benefits, including:

Are Sugar Alcohols “Bad” for You?While sugar alcohol may not be “bad” for most people to consume in moderation, it is important to consider the risks and benefits of this ingredient. Be sure to consult your doctor or a nutritionist ifyou have specific questions.

Are Sugar Alcohols “Bad” for You?

While sugar alcohol may not be “bad” for most people to consume in moderation, it is important to consider the risks and benefits of this ingredient. Be sure to consult your doctor or a nutritionist ifyou have specific questions.

There are also a few potential disadvantages of consuming sugar alcohol that are important to be aware of. Among the most common ones are:

The term sugar alcohol is a broad category encompassing different sweeteners. Some of the most popular types include:

Sugar Alcohol on Food Labels: Terms to Look For

Paying attention to food labels can help you discover whether or not the product contains sugar alcohol. To start, most foods that are labeled “sugar-free” contain some type of alternative sweetener. This type of labeling is not a guarantee that the product contains sugar alcohol, however, as it could also indicate anartificial sweetener, like aspartame or saccharin, is present.

Sugar alcohols are also easily identifiable in the “ingredients” section of the nutrition label. Most (but not all of them) have unique-sounding names that end with the suffix “-ol”. Finally, the amount of sugar alcohol that a food contains is sometimes listed in its own section under “Total Carbohydrates” on the nutrition label.

Summary

Sugar alcohol is a lower-calorie sweetener often used as a substitute for traditional sugar. These substances are naturally derived from various plants, fruits, and vegetables. Sugar alcohols are commonly seen in many foods, including sugar-free gums, candy, and ice cream.

While they may benefit people looking to decrease their carbohydrate intake, excessive consumption of these sweeteners can also cause side effects like indigestion or weight gain.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yale New Haven Health.Types of sugar alcohol.University of Maryland Medical System.Top reasons sugar alcohols may not be a good sugar substitute.National Institutes of Health.Erythritol and cardiovascular events.University of Pennsylvania.The ins and outs of sugar alcohols.Grembecka M.Sugar alcohols—their role in the modern world of sweeteners: a review.Eur Food Res Technol. 2015;241(1):1-14. doi:10.1007/s00217-015-2437-7University of California San Francisco.Counting sugar alcohols.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yale New Haven Health.Types of sugar alcohol.University of Maryland Medical System.Top reasons sugar alcohols may not be a good sugar substitute.National Institutes of Health.Erythritol and cardiovascular events.University of Pennsylvania.The ins and outs of sugar alcohols.Grembecka M.Sugar alcohols—their role in the modern world of sweeteners: a review.Eur Food Res Technol. 2015;241(1):1-14. doi:10.1007/s00217-015-2437-7University of California San Francisco.Counting sugar alcohols.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Yale New Haven Health.Types of sugar alcohol.University of Maryland Medical System.Top reasons sugar alcohols may not be a good sugar substitute.National Institutes of Health.Erythritol and cardiovascular events.University of Pennsylvania.The ins and outs of sugar alcohols.Grembecka M.Sugar alcohols—their role in the modern world of sweeteners: a review.Eur Food Res Technol. 2015;241(1):1-14. doi:10.1007/s00217-015-2437-7University of California San Francisco.Counting sugar alcohols.

Yale New Haven Health.Types of sugar alcohol.

University of Maryland Medical System.Top reasons sugar alcohols may not be a good sugar substitute.

National Institutes of Health.Erythritol and cardiovascular events.

University of Pennsylvania.The ins and outs of sugar alcohols.

Grembecka M.Sugar alcohols—their role in the modern world of sweeteners: a review.Eur Food Res Technol. 2015;241(1):1-14. doi:10.1007/s00217-015-2437-7

University of California San Francisco.Counting sugar alcohols.

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