My daughter and I are both on a low-carb diet, primarily following the Atkins version. We are in the second phase. Today we purchased sugar-free candies that have 13 grams per 4-piece serving. The label states that each serving has 21 grams of carbs. It also states under the carbohydate heading that it has 0 dietary fiber, and 21 grams of maltitol (a sugar alcohol). My daughter tells me that we can subtract the 21 grams of maltitol from the total carb count of 21 and end up with 0 carbs. Is she correct? Would that give us a "zero" carb count?

By the way, we purchased 4 different brands of candies, sugar-free Russell Stover caramels; sugar-free Cream Savers; Baskin and Robbins sugar-free hard candy; and sugar-free Go Lightly creme chews. They all have sugar alcohol contents that when subtracted from the total carb count comes out to "zero."

Thank you in advance for answering.

I think they taste great but this is a YMMV (your mileage may vary). They say you can subtract the sugar alcohols because your body digests it differently. Like a laxitive usually BUT a lot of us stall completely with weightloss when we indulge.

Depends on your body but a lot of us digest those carbs like carbs and we have to count them all.

You try and see how you do, but if you stall - they are the first things to go.

All the best.

Thank you for the quick reply. We really appreciate it.

This question is one of the most often asked and you know what? There is no definite answer. Some people react to the sugar alcohols as if they are carbohydrates and some don't. There is no way to tell for sure unless you experiment on yourself.

Just because other people do it or the general consensus from manufacturers is that sugar alcohols "don't count" doesn't mean it's right for you. They're banking on the fact that if 1000 people start low-carbing or want to lower their sugar intake, then there's a good chance that 1000 people will buy their product at least once.

It also depends on why you are low-carbing. If you are a major sugar addict and want to break the addiction, eating foods eerily similar to their high carb counterparts won't make the grade. Artificial sweeteners can become an addiction too.

Up at the top of the Page in Low Carb Tips is an excellent article on sugar alcohols. It goes into detail explaining the types and effects.

Karen

Thanks, Karen for your reply, and congratulations on your wonderful weight-loss success so far. I hope we can do as well.

Hi Nostalgic,

I had some sweets made with sugar alcohols last night and this morning I have been to the loo 3 times so far!

They have a definite laxative effect on me - which is one reason why I ate them.

You say "21 grams of carbs" this is rather a lot. There is a health warning printed on most British foods containing sugar alcohols saying that over 25 grams can cause a laxative effect. I'm writing you this because once, after scoffing a 100g bar of diabetic chocolate I was quite ill.

Robert