alcohol sugars

So, I just ate a protein bar for breakfast because I'm out of milk and couldn't have my normal shake.  After I eat it I recheck the nutrition facts and see something I hadn't seen,  Sugars 2g,  Sugar ALcohol 12 g.

I didn't get sick, but what is sugar alcohol?  Is it something for us RNYers to watch out for?

You'll know in about  leave an hour if you can'tstand the smell and you are heading for the john a lot. I know they don't raise the sugar level in your bloodstream but I'm not up on the scientific facts on this one

Steve aka Foobear whould be the best to answer this one. All I can contribute is too much sugar alcohol (fake sugar) and I get the runs something fierce. Brutal!!

Boner

They don't seem to have an effect on me, then again, I never over-do it with them either. Sugar on the other hand.....

They've never bothered me other than MIND BLOWING gas!  B.A.D  Don't go out in public.

That amount gives me all of the above.  Not a pretty sight or smell!

Even before WLS I couldn't tolerate much sugar alcohol with out getting cramps and the runs. When I first found out I had diabetes my mother n-law bought me a box of SF Chocolates didn't know about SA but found out the hard way and broke me from chocolate desire!!!

Here ya go!

What are sugar alcohols?

Look on the label of a sugar-free candy, and you're likely to see words like maltitol, xylitol, and sorbitol. These are sugar alcohols. However, they aren't actually sugar or alcohol. So what are these substances and how will they affect your body? Sugar alcohols are carbohydrates which are also called "polyols". Part of their chemical structure resembles sugar, and part of it resembles alcohol -- hence the confusing name. Examples of common sugar alcohols are maltitol, sorbitol, isomalt, and xylitol.

Where do sugar alcohols come from?

Sugar alcohols occur naturally in plants. Some of them are extracted from plants (sorbitol from corn syrup and mannitol from seaweed), but they are mostly manufactured from sugars and starches.

Why use sugar alcohols?

Sugar alcohols are like sugar in some ways, but they are not completely absorbed by the body. Because of this, the blood sugar impact of sugar alcohols is less and they provide fewer calories per gram. Additionally, sugar alcohols don't promote tooth decay as sugars do, so are often used to sweeten chewing gum. One, xylitol, actually inhibits bacterial growth in the mouth.

It's important to note, however, that the different types of sugar alcohols act very differently in the body (see chart below).

Can sugar alcohols cause problems?

Though the word "alcohol" is part of their name, they cannot get you drunk. But because they are not completely absorbed, they can ferment in the intestines and cause bloating, gas, or diarrhea. People can have different reactions to different sugar alcohols. Careful experimentation is advised.

How are sugar alcohols labeled?

The names of the individual sugar alcohols will be on the ingredient list of any product that contains them. They will be included in the amount of carbohydrate on the label, either in the total or on a separate line for sugar alcohols. If the product is labeled “sugar-free” or "no added sugar," the manufacturer must show the sugar alcohol count separately.

How do sugar alcohols compare to other carbohydrates?

Though sugar alcohols have fewer calories than sugar, most of them aren't as sweet, so more must be used to get the same sweetening effect. Still, there is a range of sweetness and impact on blood sugar among the sugar alcohols.

Thanks everyone for the information.