Sugar alcohols
I bought a 12 pack of "low sugar" protein bars (Detour Low Sugar, Chocolate Chip Caramel), which have 30 grams of protein in them. There are 34 carbohydrates, however, and 27 of these are sugar alcohols. Can someone explain to me how sugar alcohols count for carbs? I have been diabetic for almost 3 years, my father has had diabetes since 1987, so I thought I understood sugars and carbs!
Somebody help my limited brain today! Thanks in advance
Somebody help my limited brain today! Thanks in advance
I don't know how to explain it, there are people on here who can. What I CAN tell you is that sugar alcohols make me sicker than sugar. If anything has more than a few (and I mean about 4) sugar alcohols in it..I dump (and I don't usually dump on anything). For example, I can't eat SF pudding that is premade in little cups that you buy, I have to make it from the box because the cups of the alcohols and the boxes don't. I love SF popsicles and if I eat more than one..sick, sick, sick. I can't eat SF chocolate for the same reason. SO..27 sugar alcohols would kill me. You may be different, but I've heard they cause problems for many people. If they don't make you sick, they will at least give you alot of gas (most likely). Sorry for the bad news
I also dump on too many SA. And small amount of SA for me = a lot of gas, painful, stinky, paint-peeling-of-the-wall gas. Even the SA in chewing gum. watch out for that.
But then some people have no problem with that. try and see ... I would start with 1/4 bar... and see what happens.
But then some people have no problem with that. try and see ... I would start with 1/4 bar... and see what happens.
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
It's the name that makes them confusing. They aren't really sugar or alcohol. They have however a very low impact on your blood sugar (unlike "regular" sugar which can make it spike then crash) so many people don't count them as carbs.
However, when you have 27 of these- watch out! They can cause gastro-intestinal problems (bloating, gas, etc...) and so most people stay below 5-10gm per serving to keep those issues at bay. Although some folks can't touch the stuff and find themselves very sick from them. So you'll just have to find out what works for you by trial and error.
Also, I think Detour uses Maltitol as it's sweetener/sugar alcohol and it's pretty close to sugar on the G.I. scale (Sugar is 66, Maltitol is 56) too close for me-!
However, when you have 27 of these- watch out! They can cause gastro-intestinal problems (bloating, gas, etc...) and so most people stay below 5-10gm per serving to keep those issues at bay. Although some folks can't touch the stuff and find themselves very sick from them. So you'll just have to find out what works for you by trial and error.
Also, I think Detour uses Maltitol as it's sweetener/sugar alcohol and it's pretty close to sugar on the G.I. scale (Sugar is 66, Maltitol is 56) too close for me-!
:Danni >>>AIDS/LifeCycle 10 & 11 Finisher: 545miles on the bike in 7 days <<<
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