Can I Eat Sugar Alcohols On My Low Carb Diet?

by: Benji Paras

"Polyols" or sugar alcohols are a number of different carbohydrates that are neither sugars nor alcohols--and are commonly used as artificial sweeteners in a range of products, from ice cream to chewing gum.

While these tasty sweeteners appear to be the perfect solution for both low-carb dieters and low-carb food producers, recent studies of sugar alcohols have painted a somewhat different picture.

To begin with, sugar alcohols are not entirely carb-free. Most studies have indicated that sugar alcohols contain approximately 1/2 to 1/3 the amount of calories as sugar--and in the form of carbohydrates.

In addition, studies have shown that sugar alcohols are absorbed by the small intestine, but the process is slower and fractured. This affects a rise in blood sugar, but again is smaller and more gradual than with sugar--and the rise tends to vary from person to person.

Sugar alcohols also have a laxative effect on some consumers. Since they are only partially absorbed, they bring water into the bowel--and undigested carbs into the colon, creating gas and bloating as the carbs are acted on by bacteria.

Over-consumption of sugar alcohols can often have an adverse effect on low carb dieters, even when they can digest them properly. Sugar alcohols can trigger cravings in low carb dieters, causing them to deviate from dietary restrictions.

In addition, sugar alcohols can often cause low carb dieters to choose an unhealthy diet of sweets, which appear to be carb-free, over a varied diet that includes essential nutrients.

If you are currently on a low carb diet and want to mix sugar alcohol products into your diet, it is very important that you monitor your total sugar alcohol intake--and keep it at a minimum while consuming a healthy diet.

One easy way to do this is to determine the total amount of carbs in sugar alcohol products you are consuming. You can do this by subtracting the amount of fat and protein calories per serving from the total amount of calories per serving. Simply multiply the grams of protein by four and the grams of fat by nine. Now subtract the sum of the two from the total amount of calories per serving.

Using these figures, you can determine whether or not carbs are being "hidden" in "carb free" sugar alcohol products you consume, allowing you to make a better-informed decision that fits the prescriptions of your low-carb diet.

Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.

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This Week's Helpful Health Hint

How to Eat More Vitamin B   The B vitamins are essential for healthy nerves, skin, eyes and hair, and for a healthy liver.     Steps: 1. Eat leafy green vegetables, cantaloupe, asparagus, beets and brewer's yeast to get enough folic acid.    2. Add enriched whole-grain products, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, leafy green vegetables, Brussels sprouts and grains such as millet to your diet for adequate B-2, or riboflavin.    3. Spike your diet with soy products, yeast and cereals for biotin. Beef liver and clams are also a good source.    4. Eat whole grains, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, oysters and enriched bread for B-1, or thiamine.    5. Feast on chicken, salmon, potatoes and whole-grain products for B-3, or niacin. Peanuts and peanut butter are also good sources of niacin.    6. Eat brown rice, soy products, whole grains, bananas, strawberries, leafy green vegetables, wheat germ and oatmeal for B-6, or pyridoxine. Other sources include broccoli, asparagus, fish, chicken and watermelon.    7. Eat foods of animal origin for B-12, or cobalamin. Vegetarians can get B-12 from fortified products, some fermented soy foods such as miso, and Red Star brand Y3365 yeast.    8. Find pantothenic acid in a wide variety of plant and animal sources, including eggs, avocados, mushrooms, chicken and oranges.      Warnings:  If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.    From "wikiHow.com - The How-To Manual That Anyone Can Write or Edit"

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