Fri, Feb-27-04, 14:58
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Senior Member
Posts: 2,018
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Plan: Atkins
Stats: 320/220/195
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: Pensacola, FL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ccassidyvt
Sugar Alcohols should be counted as Net Carbs and I will try to explain why that is. Your body's preference for either carbs or fat isn't determined by the insulin spike, its determined by the availability of glucose in the blood stream. While sugar alcohols have less of an impact on blood sugar and insulin levels than your average carb, they still do affect it and the glucose that they are broken down into is still available for burning, making fat go on the backburner as a fuel source. If you are counting your calories sugar alcohols are no more different than any other calorie source as far as weight loss and are a healthier carb in my opinion, but if your goal is to restrict carbs in order to make fat the preferential fuel source, beware of sugar alcohols because they still act like a normal carb in the end, just not as severely. Its fine to have them once in a while, but everyday is probably not the greatest idea depending on your plan/goals.
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Sugar Alcohols are burned before fat. But, not all of the grams are absorbed [i.e. Available for fuel.] The amount varies. Generally, the ones we see in most LC Products [Lactitol, Isomalt, Maltitol, and Sorbitol] are 50-75% absorbed. That means for every 24g [1 candy bar,] your body should absorb 12-18g. Some folks will absorb less than that amount...But, I wouldn't count on your body not absorbing the full 50-75%. Some Polyols are less absorbed, such as Eryhtritol [5%.] So, for every 50g of Erythritol, you should only absorb 3g.
Glycerine, which BTW is naturally present in fat [10% by weight,] has a slightly higher Caloric value [about 5 kcal/g] than Carbs or Polyols. But, many folks seem to tolerate it better than Polyols...especially Maltitol. Its probably much lower glycemic.
Tagatose, which is considered a sugar, is absorbed at up to 37.5%. The amount absorbed varies widely from person to person. Some absorb almost none, while others absorb the full 37.5%. Like some polyols it doesn't cause a spike in Blood Sugar.
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