| "Polyols" or sugar alcohols are a number of different | | | | an adverse effect on low carb dieters, even when |
| carbohydrates that are neither sugars nor | | | | they can digest them properly. Sugar alcohols can |
| alcohols--and are commonly used as artificial | | | | trigger cravings in low carb dieters, causing them to |
| sweeteners in a range of products, from ice cream | | | | deviate from dietary restrictions. |
| to chewing gum. | | | | In addition, sugar alcohols can often cause low carb |
| While these tasty sweeteners appear to be the | | | | dieters to choose an unhealthy diet of sweets, which |
| perfect solution for both low-carb dieters and | | | | appear to be carb-free, over a varied diet that |
| low-carb food producers, recent studies of sugar | | | | includes essential nutrients. |
| alcohols have painted a somewhat different picture. | | | | If you are currently on a low carb diet and want to |
| To begin with, sugar alcohols are not entirely | | | | mix sugar alcohol products into your diet, it is very |
| carb-free. Most studies have indicated that sugar | | | | important that you monitor your total sugar alcohol |
| alcohols contain approximately 1/2 to 1/3 the amount | | | | intake--and keep it at a minimum while consuming a |
| of calories as sugar--and in the form of | | | | healthy diet. |
| carbohydrates. | | | | One easy way to do this is to determine the total |
| In addition, studies have shown that sugar alcohols | | | | amount of carbs in sugar alcohol products you are |
| are absorbed by the small intestine, but the process | | | | consuming. You can do this by subtracting the |
| is slower and fractured. This affects a rise in blood | | | | amount of fat and protein calories per serving from |
| sugar, but again is smaller and more gradual than with | | | | the total amount of calories per serving. Simply |
| sugar--and the rise tends to vary from person to | | | | multiply the grams of protein by four and the grams |
| person. | | | | of fat by nine. Now subtract the sum of the two |
| Sugar alcohols also have a laxative effect on some | | | | from the total amount of calories per serving. |
| consumers. Since they are only partially absorbed, | | | | Using these figures, you can determine whether or |
| they bring water into the bowel--and undigested | | | | not carbs are being "hidden" in "carb free" sugar |
| carbs into the colon, creating gas and bloating as the | | | | alcohol products you consume, allowing you to make |
| carbs are acted on by bacteria. | | | | a better-informed decision that fits the prescriptions |
| Over-consumption of sugar alcohols can often have | | | | of your low-carb diet. |