Sugar alcohols are one type of reduced-calorie sweetener. You can find them in ice creams, cookies, puddings, candies and chewing gum that is labeled as “sugar-free” or “no sugar added.” Sugar alcohols provide fewer calories than sugar and have less of an effect on blood glucose (blood sugar) than other carbohydrates.
Examples of sugar alcohol are:
- Erythritol
- Glycerol (also known as glycerin or glycerine)
- hydrogenated starch hydrolysates
- isomalt
- lactitol
- maltitol
- mannitol
- sorbitol
- xylitol
Even though they are called sugar alcohols, they do not contain alcohol.
Despite the fact that sugar alcohols are used in many foods, they remain somewhat of a mystery to people. As a replacement for sugar, they may benefit you. Authority Nutrition helps us break down the details.
There are many different types of sugar alcohols, the most popular ones being xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, and maltitol. They are a hybrid between sugar and alcohol, but fortunately (or perhaps, unfortunately) they won’t get you drunk. Instead, they’re used as sweeteners in lieu of sugar in many health-branded foods (such as protein bars and sugar-free gum), because they contain fewer calories and have other beneficial properties.