Sugar and sugar alcohol

[ROCKETW19]

What the hell is the difference between the two? I like to eat bars every now and then and I always check the sugar amounts. I notice some will say 1 gram sugar and 20 grams sugar alcohol. Can someone explane this in retard terms to me please.
I have wondered this for years. I usaly just throw it back in if it says anything like that and check another bar.

[FitnessBrat]

Sugar alcohol is artificial sweetning. So the bar may have only 1gr of sugar, but to make it taste sweet and half way decent, they add 20gr of artificial sweetner - aspartame, etc.

[Bouncer]

What the hell is the difference between the two? I like to eat bars every now and then and I always check the sugar amounts. I notice some will say 1 gram sugar and 20 grams sugar alcohol. Can someone explane this in retard terms to me please.
I have wondered this for years. I usaly just throw it back in if it says anything like that and check another bar.

"Sugar alcohols are similar to simple sugar, but have an alcohol component. You can usually recognize sugar alcohols by the –ol at the end. Examples include sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol and lactitol. What sugar alcohols do is add the sweetness and bulk of sugar, but without as many calories and the high glycemic effect. Meaning, they’re slowly absorbed and don’t affect blood glucose levels as much as regular sugar. Some sugar-free products I’ve come across can contain 25 grams of sugar alcohols. I would look around on the packet and search for the warning of a laxative effect. Consuming more then 50g of sugar alcohols can cause gas, diarrhea and other unpleasant side effects"

[FitnessBrat]

"Sugar alcohols are similar to simple sugar, but have an alcohol component. You can usually recognize sugar alcohols by the –ol at the end. Examples include sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol and lactitol. What sugar alcohols do is add the sweetness and bulk of sugar, but without as many calories and the high glycemic effect. Meaning, they’re slowly absorbed and don’t affect blood glucose levels as much as regular sugar. Some sugar-free products I’ve come across can contain 25 grams of sugar alcohols. I would look around on the packet and search for the warning of a laxative effect. Consuming more then 50g of sugar alcohols can cause gas, diarrhea and other unpleasant side effects"

That wasn't "retard terms" - duh :wack:

[Scrumhalf]

A decent rule of thumb is to count sugar alcohols as about 2 KCal/g vs. 4 KCal/g for regular sugar. So they are better than sugars, but it causes upset stomachs in many people, so use in moderation.

[ROCKETW19]

Sugar alcohol is artificial sweetning. So the bar may have only 1gr of sugar, but to make it taste sweet and half way decent, they add 20gr of artificial sweetner - aspartame, etc.

perfect!

[ROCKETW19]

That wasn't "retard terms" - duh :wack:

LOL, ya that wasnt but I managed to understand what he wrote.