Scientific research is great at uncovering the potential health benefits and risks of all that we consume.
Eating too much sugar does a lot of things to your body.
Sugar alcohols are an alternative to sugar.
They’re found in products like candies, gum, processed foods, and even toothpaste.
Are foods sweetened by sugar alcohol a better option than plain sugar?
They’re not absorbed fully by our bodies the way regular sugar is.
Sugar alcohols are essentially a form of carbohydrate that are manufactured, although some come from natural foods.
They have fewer calories 2 per gram than plain sugar, which has 4 per gram.
“They taste almost as sweet as sugar with about half the calories,” explains Bissell.
This might explain why toothpaste labels will tell you they have sugar alcohol in them (via Healthline).
The recommended daily intake is about 10 to 15 grams, reportsCleveland Clinic.
Anything more could have damaging effects like weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, and purging.
This means that you could still gain weight if you excessively consume foods laced with sugar alcohol.
issues (viaUniversity of Maryland Medical System).
Sugar alcohols have their merits, especially when consumed within the approved quantities.
