Sugar Alcohols - What's the Deal?

[Katie_1985]

So what is the deal with sugar alcohols. I don’t have the book on hand (at work) so I was hoping someone could help me out. Why can’t we have them? Also, do they boot you out of ketosis????



I am just confused as to why they’re not allowed! I know a lot of sugar free stuff contains them!



Thanks,

[Jace]

Put simply, sugar alcohols are sugars that have been chemically modified so that our bodies do not recognize them as sugars and, therefore, they are not completely absorbed into the small intestine. In essence, they end up being treated much like fiber and as such you may notice a diuretic effect from eating sugar alcohols.

The key to why we should avoid is that no everyone reacts the same to them. The general rule of thumb is that, if you experience the diuretic effect, then you have most likely not metabolised any of the sugar. If you do not, there's a chance you could be absorbing each and every little carb in that piece of sugar free candy.

As many sources will state, these things are "not completely absorbed" or "incompletely absorbed", which means that regardless of the effect on your body you could be metabolising some of the sugar alcohol anyway.

Generally they are better than eating candies with real sugar and they do not cause tooth decay, but the only way to find out how they effect you is to actually use them and see so you have to decide whether that particular discovery is worth braving the risk of having a reaction to and falling off the wagon.

Hope this helps a bit,

~Far la bella figura!

[Katie_1985]

Thanks hon!

I did just have a PACK of Reese's pieces. Two actually. I am mortified but TOM is coming and I had to have them! I am willing to see what effect it gives me. I am just going to up my water intake too. I am mortified but I don't consider it a complete fall off the wagon just because my body may not absorb all of it! Anyways, I will be back on the wagon no problem. I just have never craved chocolate during TOM but today is was wild!

So am I going to gain all the weight I lost in my whooshie this mornging do you think? Is that realistic?

[liv]

Make sure you stay close to a bathroom as well.

(At least that is the effect Malitol has on me)

[Katie_1985]

Ha ha ha! Thank Liv! I will keep that in mind! I'd rather crap it out than have the weight. Is that horrible? Lol.

[blue996]

Last time I had candy with sugar alcohols the effect was so bad that I actually feel I would have been better off to just eat sugar. I never touch them now...lesson learned.

[Katie_1985]

Blue - not to get to personal but by the "effect being bad" do you mean the diuretic effect? Or smthg else?

[Deanie]

That stuff does a number on my tummy as well. I tried those Russell Stover no sugar chocolate candies. The bloating and stomach cramps afterward were just awful.
If you feel you really need a treat, better to go off the wagon briefly and have a "real" chocolate bar, then get right back on track with your atkins asap.
Better yet: eat real, unprocessed food and stay away from chemically produced sweeteners, imho.

[germensano]

in my personal situation the sugar alcohol just are laxative and that (for me ) is not a bad thing, if you want this just make sure that you dont eat the whole bag.

[Katie_1985]

I ate TWO whole bags...not knowing this was the effect. Not only have I been to the bathroom in a painful way....my tummy has a knot in it!!!!! I am dying over here! i am just going to stay hydrated in hopes that will flush it out more comfortably!