Net Carbs REVISITED! Can someone please help with sugar alcohols?

[RBLWMN]

Yes, you would think by the 4th rung I would have things slightly figured out but I'll tell you the truth, I've been avoiding anything with major levels of sugar alcohols. I figure if I can't justify the total carbs minus the fiber I don't need it.

My dd is doing this WOE with me. Her dr. approved it for her for seizure control as well as major weight issues. We have been doing great but it's hard for a kid not to have gum & stuff. So, like say for instance you look at a pack of Extra Sugar Free Gum. Carbs are 2 & sugar alchols are 2, I know 2 carbs aren't that many & she is doing great with her cravings but I just don't want to reinforce a bad habit, plus 4 - 5 pieces of gum is 10 carbs.

So if your still with me despite my longwindedness, can you give me your tips on sugar alcohols?

Oh & hey, we are on the alcohol rung, do sugar alcohols count!! lol

[brandywine1241]

Re: Net Carbs REVISITED! Can someone please help with sugar alcohols?

There are a couple of threads in the low carb dieting faqs about sugar alcohols that might be helpful.

My personal opinion is that is you have "bathroom issues" or gas when consuming them, they are hanging around in your gut and not being digested. Therefore you sould be safe to not count or partially count them as carbs. If you have no issues, you are digesting them and they should be counted.

[Elizellen]

Re: Net Carbs REVISITED! Can someone please help with sugar alcohols?

I agree with brandywine, if they dont give me 'bathroom issues' then I need to count every pesky carb!

[Sera]

Re: Net Carbs REVISITED! Can someone please help with sugar alcohols?

I do get bathroom issues most of the time but I always count the complete carbs incl. sugar alcohols I prefer being sure I didn't have too many carbs over worrying that I might have had too many

[Bucknuts]

Re: Net Carbs REVISITED! Can someone please help with sugar alcohols?

Here is something I found on the American Diabetes Association website. I have never trusted the idea of not counting sugar alcohols and have researched it quite a bit. There are studies that have been done that do indicate that sugar alcohols do affect blood sugar levels, and to me common sense dictates that if you are eating so called sugar free candy and it has a total carb count of 40 for a serving with 2 g fiber and 36 g of sugar alcohols so the net carbs = 2 g that defies logic are these 38 carbs an illusion?

American Diabetes Association



Reduced Calorie Sweeteners – Sugar Alcohols

Sugar alcohols are one type of reduced-calorie sweetener and are used in sugar-free candies, chewing gum, and desserts. They provide about half the calories of sugars and other carbohydrates. Isomalt, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol are examples of sugar alcohols. Even though they are called sugar alcohols, they do not contain alcohol. Sometimes sugar alcohols can cause diarrhea, especially in children. Many people think that foods with sugar alcohols are “free foods.” This is not true!

Tips for Carb Counting and Sugar Alcohols

Sugar alcohols don’t raise blood glucose as much as the same amount of other carbohydrates. To figure out the amount of other carbohydrate you should count for a food with sugar alcohols, follow these tips:

· Subtract half of the sugar alcohol grams from the total carbohydrate

· Count the remaining grams

For Example:

Serving Size: 1 bar

Total carbohydrate 15 grams -- Sugar alcohol 6 grams

One bar counts as 12 grams carbohydrate (15 – 3 = 12)

[RBLWMN]

Re: Net Carbs REVISITED! Can someone please help with sugar alcohols?

Wow, that was very informative!

Great information. Obviously, the gum hasn't been an issue with her this week. She is down 1/2 a pound & A WHOLE INCH in her belly!


For me this week I'm at week 3 of no changes, so I'm not going to have any sugar alcohols.