EdnBama
01-03-2004, 11:30 AM
cont'd from previous post
Sugar Alcohols
The human body does not process (metabolize) sugar alcohols the same way it processes sugar. For that reason, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) generally does not require them to be listed on a food label. They must be listed only if the product makes a specific sugar claim, say that it is sugar free.
However, when sugar alcohols are on the label, they are placed in a separate line under Total Carbohydrates. The
following example is from a label for hard candies that contain sugar alcohol and claim they are sugar free:
Total carbohydrates 13
Dietary Fiber 0 grams
Sugars 0 grams
Sugar Alcohol 12 grams
Sugar alcohols have a minimal effect on blood glucose levels. But although the FDA counts sugar alcohols at two to three calories per gram (rather than the four calories per gram for other sugars), they are not problem free.
Because sugar alcohols are not completely digested in the stomach, many people find that eating too much sugar alcohol causes cramping and gas in the lower intestine.
Some sugar alcohols you'll find on labels:
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Isomalt
Lactitol
Mannitol
Malitol
Sorbitol
Xylitol
Madelyn Wheeler, MS, RD, CDE, is coordinator for research dietetics at the Diabetes Research and Training Center of Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. Marcia Levine Mazur is senior editor of "Diabetes Forecast." Reprinted from "Diabetes Forecast," February 1997. Copyright 1997 American Diabetes Association. For information on joining ADA and receiving Diabetes Forecast, call 1-800-806-7801.
Sugar Alcohols
The human body does not process (metabolize) sugar alcohols the same way it processes sugar. For that reason, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) generally does not require them to be listed on a food label. They must be listed only if the product makes a specific sugar claim, say that it is sugar free.
However, when sugar alcohols are on the label, they are placed in a separate line under Total Carbohydrates. The
following example is from a label for hard candies that contain sugar alcohol and claim they are sugar free:
Total carbohydrates 13
Dietary Fiber 0 grams
Sugars 0 grams
Sugar Alcohol 12 grams
Sugar alcohols have a minimal effect on blood glucose levels. But although the FDA counts sugar alcohols at two to three calories per gram (rather than the four calories per gram for other sugars), they are not problem free.
Because sugar alcohols are not completely digested in the stomach, many people find that eating too much sugar alcohol causes cramping and gas in the lower intestine.
Some sugar alcohols you'll find on labels:
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Isomalt
Lactitol
Mannitol
Malitol
Sorbitol
Xylitol
Madelyn Wheeler, MS, RD, CDE, is coordinator for research dietetics at the Diabetes Research and Training Center of Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. Marcia Levine Mazur is senior editor of "Diabetes Forecast." Reprinted from "Diabetes Forecast," February 1997. Copyright 1997 American Diabetes Association. For information on joining ADA and receiving Diabetes Forecast, call 1-800-806-7801.