Artificial Sweeteners – part II

Sugar alcohols are another category of sweeteners. They are derived from plant products such as fruits and are referred to as nutritive sweeteners because they provide calories and may affect blood sugar. They contain fewer calories than table sugar because they are not well absorbed. The most common include sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltiol and lactitol. One strong benefits of these sweeteners is their role in preventing dental cavities. You’ll find them in candies, gum, jam and jellies and some cough syrups. In excess, they can cause abdominal discomfort and bloating and have a laxative effect. They also can exacerbate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome for some people.