You're asking and I'm answering . . .
Hey Fit!
I know you have done a ton of posts on meal-replacement bars, but they sure still manage to confuse me! Today, I picked up a South Beach Meal Replacement bar while I was out running errands and wanted a quick pick me up (I know, should have gone to the fruit aisle instead!). When reading the package, it said "less than 1 gram of sugar" but then 17 grams of "sugar alcohol!" What the heck does that mean! Please tell me I didn't just stuff my face with something horrible! Thanks!
—Label Reading Renny
Check this: "sugar alcohol" is neither sugar nor alcohol. It is polyol, which is a hydrogenated carbohydrate. On a structural level (remember chemistry?), sugar alcohol resembles sugar, which after all is a carb. And part of a polyol resembles alcohol but will not get you drunk. This would be why they are referred to, in a misleading manner, as sugar alcohol. The most common types of sugar alcohol are maltitol, sorbitol, isomalt, and xylitol (used mostly in gum).
To see if sugar alcohol is naturally occurring just read more.
This suped-up sugar replacement that occurs naturally in many fruits and veggies is not completely absorbed or completely metabolized by the body. This translates ultimately to fewer calories consumed by the body. Sugar alcohol contains about .02 to three calories per gram, whereas a gram of sugar contains about four calories. No insulin is required to convert sugar alcohol into energy, making it relatively diabetic friendly, but definitely ask your doctor to find out if sugar alcohol is safe for you to eat.
However, there are some negative side effects to polyol sweeteners, and they mostly involve the lower-GI tract. The most common side effect to watch out for is bloating and diarrhea when sugar alcohol is eaten in excessive amounts. "Excessive amounts" varies from sugar alcohol to sugar alcohol, but for mannitol it is above 20 g. So just like sugar, you best eat these sweet substitutes in moderation.
I would say that eating a little bit of sugar alcohol every now and then isn't really going to do you harm. Since manufacturers must show the sugar alcohol count separately if a product is labeled “sugar free” or "no added sugar," you should be able to track how much you are ingesting. I do agree with you about sticking to the produce aisle at your grocery store as much as possible.
Meltin Pot
Bourjois
Tomas Maier
I have wondered about this for awhile, actually. Thanks for explaining it!
1I have wondered about it too...Thanks Fit!
2Thanks so much Fit!! I think that's the last one of those I'll be eating!
3For some of us - Sugar alcohols are easier for our bodies to process (no bloating, no diarrhea) and if we eat actually sugar or other sugar substitutes like agave or honey they will make us very ill. So it becomes a matter of know thy body and what's best in thy body and realize some products were created for people with specific food intolerances.
And sugar alcohols are in so many foods you may be eating very little unless you cook it yourself - which is always my favorite option.
4That is crazy that they can advertise it this way
5oh man, I just finished eating that EXACT bar and then saw it on here and was like grrrrrreat, what did I just do???
Although, I eat them all the time as a quick lunch between meetings and have no problems.
6Yeah, this one was confusing for me for awhile, but I think they are a great quick meal option when you are out on the run, otherwise I just end up eating unhealthy fast foods.
7I thought it was some form of artificial sweetner..I guess it is kinda. Thanks for the tip FIT! I realized that I sometimes get cramps in my stomach when I start to chew POWERFUL gum..
8How does one go about asking FitSugar a question? I have a rather important one that's been bothering me... Thanks in advance!
9livyourlife-
you direct question in two ways.
1) In the top navigation bar, just under the orange FitSugar and the image of Fit's head there is a button the says "about" and it is all the way on the right side of the bar. Single click on the arrow/triangle and a drop down screen will appear. Single click on "Contact Us." Fill out the form and leave your message.
2) You can send me a private message (or PM as we like to call) through my team page. Just click the image of Fit's head and that will take you to my page on TeamSugar. On the left hand side of the page, just under an image of my doggie Bonnie, you can click "Private Message Me." It is the second option down.
Can't wait to get your question.
10Sugar alcohol = extreme lower gi tract distress
11...but really, I was advised by a cardiologist to use Xylitol instead of sugar or other substitutes, if the GI thing was not an issue for me.
He praised the fact that it was a more natural product - not a Splenda sort of chlorine
processed sweetener, did not increase insulin levels or promote tooth decay.
I cook with it all the time and I've never had stomach upsets with it, in fact my GI tract is happier that ever!
So know thy body, yes... I am happy that I tried it for myself rather than be scaired off by the "May cause bloating or diarrhea."
12Look who just turned up in this Promise ad!!! The cardiologist who told me to use Xylitol...
Check it out:http://www.promisehealthyheart.com/cardio_landing.asp
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