Sugar alcohols

Sugar alcohols, commonly known as polyols, are carbohydrate compounds found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Sugar alcohols that are often used as sugar substitutes include erythritol, xylitol, and maltitol. Sugar alcohols are not fermented by the bacteria in your mouth, so they do not harm your teeth in the same way that conventional sugar does. Furthermore, they have far fewer calories and have no effect on blood sugar levels, making them an excellent choice for diabetics.

Erythritol has just 0.2 calories per gram, but xylitol has 2.4 calories per gram. Sucrose — or table sugar — has 4 calories per gram. Although sugar alcohols are usually regarded as harmless, high doses of certain may induce gastric distress. Sorbitol, for example, may induce laxative effects at dosages of 20-50 grams, but erythritol may cause stomach distress in quantities more than 455 mg per pound (1,000 mg per kg) of body weight. Finally, xylitol is extremely dangerous to dogs. If you live with a dog, you should keep xylitol out of reach or avoid it entirely.