confused about something...

[doeskin]

Maybe this is a silly question, or it has already been anwered somewhere, but I've always wondered something about sugar alcohols:

If we can sweeten things with Splenda (or saccharin or whatever else), why is it necessary to put sugar alcohols in LC candy or other products? Why can't they only sweeten them with Splenda, and not with the tummy-troubling SA?

I'm sure one of you smarties knows the answer!

[Jacksuncle]

Re: confused about something...

Because if they did that where would we get our umcomfortable and painful gas all day lol? I think whoever invented sugar alcohols is actually a high carber and bent on making our lives miserable.

[SkaPaladin]

Re: confused about something...

That is a very good question. And why can't coke make a splenda version. Not that Diet Rite isn't great. As a matter of fact, sodas were my big vice, and Diet Rite cleared that up quickly.

I guess it's just an attachment to the convenience of being able to go into a convenience store, and be able to pick a few things up on a late night run, and not have to find a 24 hr super mkt.

Diet Rite isn't at convenience stores. How inconvenient.

[Laurenfra]

Re: confused about something...

Diet Rite isn't at convenience stores. How inconvenient.

Thats funny we always get things after the cities not before but I can now find Diet Rite in Shell "stores" and "Tiger Tote" We are a town of 4000 just North of Victoria TX.

I think splenda is new and it is expensive to change ingredents, plus people protest change 'think New Coke'. I hope as people write and complain changes will be made(hint Hint)

[bjs1976]

Re: confused about something...

Coke does have a splenda version. I hate the taste, NOT even close to Diet coke or original, but there is a diet coke with splenda!!!

[sadie147]

Re: confused about something...

It is due to the texture of what they put it in. chocolate, candies, bars etc would not hold their proper textur etc with splenda, sugar alcohols mimic sugar in this way, i believe when heated they become more like sugar than splenda does.


Here is an excerpt from http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips010.html that explains which ones have what properties

The thing is, the different sugar alcohols have different properties, and can't be used for all things. Sorbitol is used in hard candies ... it produces a nice, clear candy that doesn't crystalize, and stays hard and dry in a humid environment. Because it doesn't crystalize, sorbitol is used in ice cream to help it stay creamy. Mannitol also can absorb a lot of moisture before it gets damp and sticky, therefore it's used to "dust" sticks of gum, to keep them dry. Maltitol and erythritol provide smooth bulk, and are ideal for chocolates and soft candies to give a creamy "melt in the mouth" quality.

Sugar alcohols are not acted upon by bacteria in the mouth, and therefore do NOT cause tooth decay. In fact, xylitol actually INHIBITS oral bacteria, and is often used in sugarless mints and chewing gum for this reason.

HTH

Oh and about the splenda in coke etc..yes they do have a coke with splenda (it's horribly sweet) in the US. the reason that they all didn't just 'change' to splenda, is because these big companies have contracts with ingredient companies - including the sweetener companies. they had to stick with Ace-K as their sweetener until the contract was up from what I have heard.

[Barbde]

Re: confused about something...

Also, Diet Coke with splenda is just not a big seller. I had requests for it and tried it in a few machines. It does not move. And Diet Drinks are short dated, so they would go out of date before they would sell. I pulled it from my machines.

[doeskin]

Re: confused about something...

Thank you sadie147! I had an inkling it had something to do with the bars and candies being "hard" (as opposed to liquid soft drinks and such), but thanks for clearing that up for me.

[theredhead]

Re: confused about something...

Since I'm one of the people who isn't wild about Splenda, my opinion is that sugar alcohols just taste better. But it's sure not worth the aftereffects for me!

[Jacksuncle]

Re: confused about something...

The good thing about sugar alcohols is that high carbers dont usually know about them or their effects. A really fun trick is next family get together make something sweet and yummy with them..lots of them...muahaha as much as you can get. Ofcourse you opt to not eat the delicious dessert and watch as the rest of the family eats all of it up haha. Then wait about half an hour and get the video camera out and see how they react to the unceasing flatulence and frequent bathroom trips. That is so wrong lol.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: confused about something...

The good thing about sugar alcohols is that high carbers dont usually know about them or their effects. A really fun trick is next family get together make something sweet and yummy with them..lots of them...muahaha as much as you can get. Ofcourse you opt to not eat the delicious dessert and watch as the rest of the family eats all of it up haha. Then wait about half an hour and get the video camera out and see how they react to the unceasing flatulence and frequent bathroom trips. That is so wrong lol.

Yea, my former boss used to love my sf mini reeses cups. A bag would last me a month--if I put them in a bowl on my desk, he's eat the whole bag in one day! I used to buy them just because of that! LOL, I doubt if he ever put 2 and 2 together..............Ahhhh sweet (SF) revenge!

[Jacksuncle]

Re: confused about something...

Haha thats what you get for taking my reeses!

[Miss Phode]

Re: confused about something...

5'11"
203 pounds of untanned pudge.

Goal:
6'5"
190 pounds of tanned muscle.
Hey, I might hit a growth spurt at 35.

My goodness, how did you get so funny?

[Jacksuncle]

Re: confused about something...

Awwww shucks *kicks rock* Its my gift I plan on using it for you all though!

[Rubysugar]

Re: confused about something...

Good answer Sadie!
I have no problem with sugar alcohols. An abundance does make me particularly musical that afternoon, but it's not bothersome by any means. And has never sent me to the bathroom. One time though, I was having issues with not being able to go potty, so I ate a bunch of SF chocolate since everyone talked about the ill effect. Didn't help, but it was by far the best potential cure I had thought of!
I saw Maltitol sweetening syrup being sold in the grocery. Anyone used this in anything?