Hi all,
since i started on a pump last month i have really been trying to cut down my carb intake, and have been (unfortunately) eating more pre-packaged foods lately to be sure i get the carb counts right. my mom bought me a lot of the atkins bars, and they are low in carbs and high in fiber and protein but they’re also very high in sugar alchohols–what is the verdict on them? (it seems that if one thing doesn’t get me, another ingredient will!)
thanks
Hi Alli,
Sugar alcohols effect people differently, so it’s going to be an experiment for you. Some people (I’m one) experience BG spikes from them & others don’t. Sugar alcohols effect me the same as plain sugar, but this might not happen to you.
Eaten in quantity sugar alcohols can cause stomach cramps & diarrhea. There’s usually a warning on the label about this. The combo of high fiber & sugar alcohols is a potent one for gastric distress:)
The Atkins Advantage bars (the breakfast bars) don’t have as much sugar alcohols, I don’t think, as do the Atkins candy bars. I often eat one for breakfast.
For me, it depends on the sugar alcohol. Most products use maltitol, which for me is pretty close to sugar, and, in terms of gastrointestinal effect . . . well, I once even scared away our cat. Let’s leave it at that. Wasn’t pretty.
I’ve only had them once in some sugar free chocolate candy. I get sick (allergy?) from them…I mean I puked. Sorry… I know it’s too much information, but that’s what they do to me. My dietician said I can have a piece of regular dark chocolate every now and then, so that’s what I do now. I also eat regular ice cream instead of sugar free, but I make sure to stay within my carb range. Thank goodness I’m not allergic to Splenda, or I would be in real trouble.
YEAH WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT SURGAR ALCOHOL I WAS LIKE YEEEEESSSSS! THE PACKAGE SAID SUGAR FREE, BUT TO COME TO FIND OUT IN ALMOST EVERY CASE I HERE IT IS THE SAME THING. I THINK IT WILL STILL SPIKE YOUR SUGARS, BUT DO IT EVEN FASTER. THE SUGAR ALCOHOL DIGEST FASTER SO IT WILL SPIKE QUICK. LIKE GERRI SAID THOUGH TRY A SMALL POTION ONCE AND IF IT SPIKE DONT EAT IT, IF IT DOESNT YOU MITE BE THE LUCKY ONES. GOOD LUCK WITH FINDING YOUR ANSWER!
I have no problems with sugar alcohols and they do allow me lots of choices. For me I can take half of the sugar alcohol amount and subtract that from the total carb count and have great sugars. I will say if I eat too much in one day, I will get gassy so I had to figure out how much my body can handle in a day. Once I figured that out, I was good to go! You will just have to try them out and see how you do 