Sugar Alcohol

[JeffinNYC]

Now that I'm starting to rerad the labels...I noticed that some labels have under CARBS:
FIBER
SUGAR
SUGAR ALCOHOL

How does the Sugar Alcohol count?

Thanks!
-Jeff in NYC

[fluffyman]

Sugar alcohols such as malitol or any other "ol" are sugar molecules with one hydrogen bond chemically removed. It may take slightly longer to digest, but it's still sugar. As a diabetic, I have to watch for these. Sugar free usually means it has a sugar alcohol which can elevate blood sugar and torpedo your carb count for the day.

Rick

[2big4mysize]

to be safe only remove the fiber (which by law is something that goes in your mouth and comes out your rear unmetabolized so if SAs weren't metabooized they would be in fibers not carbs) from your carbs. caunt ther rest. Happy low carbing.

[Austlyn]

I knocked myself out of ketosis which sugar alchols becareful,

[ttdriver]

How does the Sugar Alcohol count?

Ahem .. not to be crude here .. but unless your idea of fun is gastric distress followed by an extended visit to the toilet .. I'd stay away from them.

Betty

[MaizieMarley]

I second ttdriver! Watch out - could be very uncomfortable....

[Isabeau]

There was a post a few months ago (man, I forget who posted it) about sugar alcohols and how they are not created or utilized equally. It was very interesting. After reading that, I think it best to avoid them and definitely count those carbs as 2big suggested. That's my opinion!

[2big4mysize]

yep the human body metabolizes different sugar alcohols in different amounts because we have reactive sites foir the broken down molecules they become in our intestins. Not all SAs are built the same either. the EUropean Union which is the food lableing conrol group for Europe made them alter the carb counts for their listed values too back in 2002. the US didn't follow suit. there is only one SA that isn't metabolized but do you really want to swallow somwthing as a food docs use to test kidney clearance function?

[Isabeau]

*shudders* Certainly not me.

[Carrieh]

Thank you JeffinNYC for asking this question. I thought I knew the answer: not for induction, but okay if only used occasionally. Boy, was I wrong!

And thanks to the rest of you for illuminating me to the dangers of sugar alcohols.!