Besides the nasty side effect...

My Russell Stover SF candies are malitol sweetened and I was wondering about carbs. They list total carbs as 18g, fiber as 1g, and malitol as 17g.

I know malitol is not supposed to affect blood insulin/glucose levels, but I find it hard to say these have 0 carbs.

What are your thoughts/experience with this?

Thanks!

Hi Noladq and welcome to the forum!

You might find this link interesting and informative: http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips010.html

It covers the basics on sugar alcohols. Everyone seems to react to these things differently so they're a YMMV thing that everyone has to find out for themselves. They don't affect my blood sugars at all, but for some reason too much of them tends to stall me so I keep my intake of sugar alcohols to an occasional treat. They also seem to cause intestinal upset for quite a few people so go easy on them until you know how your body will react.

Noladq, thanks for posting this question...

Lisa thanks for the information.. but I do have a question if you have a sec, I did read all the information but I am still a little confused, can you help?? I was doing the math on a product which I have been eating and yes the bottom number on the math was 84 and the cabs per serving on the package.. was 25.. but dose that mean that I can not have this product and what is the real number the 84 as carbs?? I am so confused.... do you know the answer?? I am put a sample of the information on the panel here..


calories 240
fat cal 16g
sat fat 3g
total carbs25g
protien 3g

did I do it right??


thanks
Vivian

Hi Vivian!

Yes, you did the math right. After you subract the calories from fat and protein, you are left with 84 calories of carb or 21 grams total (there are roughly 4 calories per gram of carb or protein). The trick with sugar alcohols, is how well your body can digest them. In that sense, many support the idea that they are much like fiber and undigestible by the body and therefore not to be counted. Others say the full carb count from sugar alcohols should be counted. Personally, I think the truth is somewhere in the middle; the body can digest them, but not fully so their impact is about half of what a fully digestible carb would be. Whatever their impact is on you individually, the general consensus is that most people are best off by only having treats sweetened with sugar alcohols once in a while and not on a daily basis. HTH

Cheers to you and thanks...
have a wonder holiday.....

Merry Christmas..........


hugs
Vivian