So, what are they? They're carbohydrates concocted from certain substances by a chemical process. The end result chemically resembles both sugar and alcohol. That's how they got the name of sugar alcohol.

While investigating the types of substances being passed on to the public as "safe" and "good" for you, I've found so many alarming things that I feel I must warn you. We're on a roll with "artificial sweeteners," and all sweet substances that end in "ol" are considered sugar alcohols.

They're mostly considered sweeter than sugar with almost no calories. People who consume them thinking they will help them lose weight, often find they increase their weight. Since clever ads, do their best to convince people that these substances are all safe, many wonder what's wrong with them since their results don't live up to the "promises." Some experts believe sugar alcohols increase a craving for sweets.

One reason why this may be so is that erythritol, for instance, is less sweet than table sugar. So manufacturers may couple it with aspartame. The combination may cause headaches and some of the other side effects of consuming aspartame. These may include anxiety, depression, short-term memory loss, fibromyalgia, fatigue and more. (It's in Truvia) (sciencedaily.com)

Another reason this particular alcohol sugar may cause cravings is this. You don't metabolize it like you do sugar. Natural sweeteners cause a release of brain hormones that lessen appetite. Erythritol does not cause this, so you may not feel full after eating, foods containing it which may trigger a desire to eat more.

Some people are allergic to erythritol, resulting in severe skin reactions, such as hives or welts. (By the way, Drexel University found it was toxic to fruit flies. Their researchers wanted to patent it as an insecticide. sciencedaily.com )

The Federal Department of Agriculture doesn't require all of these sugar alcohols to be listed on food labels. So we're left wondering what foods have them as "hidden" ingredients. They do require mannitol and sorbitol to be listed. health.clevelandclinic.org

Here's a list. Some do not end in ol, but all are considered in the same family. 

Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, isomalt, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol. Some are touted as "better for your teeth than sugar." That's because bad bacteria don't feed on them.

Commonly, these artificial sweeteners are not digestible, and can create havoc in your digestive system. They're hard on the biome or normal intestinal bacteria. Because some of these substances ferment in the GI tract, they may cause digestive upsets with bloating, gas, abdominal pain and in some cases diarrhea. (Erythritol)

They can also damage the lining of the intestinal tract. It draws water from the body into the bowel damaging the cells that line the gut wall.

Erythritol has also been associated with major heart problems, including heart attacks and strokes.  health.clevelandclinic.org Even though this has been researched, the FDA does not require it to be listed on a label. Using it to excess can cause a laxative effect. 

Some gummies contain erythritol and Maltitol. The combination has been known to trigger autoimmune problems. They irritate the gut lining. Since they're not digested, they can deteriorate causing bad bacteria to grow. thehealthyhomeeconomist.com

Xylitol causes digestive upsets and is toxic to dogs. wakeup-world.com

 Sorbitol is often made from cornstarch. The corn was probably genetically modified. 

Animal studies show tumor growth happening from high doses over a period of time.

Although there are those who argue for the use of sugar alcohols, there have been no longterm studies performed.

Should pregnant women consume sugar alcohols or other artificial sweeteners? Many food substances including toxic things pass through the placenta to the baby. Babies are born having a toxic load in their bodies. 

Did you know that newborns may easily have over 280 chemicals in their umbilical cord  blood? 180 can cause cancer in humans and animals. 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system and 208 cause developmental problems.www.ewg.org

Some sugar alcohols form naturally in tiny amounts in such foods as berries, pineapple, pears, watermelon, and asparagus. (FDA) However, the ones commercially added to our foods often come from GMO (genetically modified organisms) which is a subject for another post. 

Artificial sugar alcohols are added to baked goods, candy, some cereals, chewing gum, chocolate, cough syrup, drinks of various sorts, frosting, ice cream, jelly, mouthwash, pudding & toothpaste. medicalnewstoday.com (On sugar alcohols)

Sports and energy drinks may contain sugar alcohols. They will be in certain nut butters, nasal sprays, lozenges and some vitamins.  draxe.com They can also be found in some protein bars and post workout snacks. www.verywellfit.com.

We need to become more pro-active about our health. Learning to look up words on labels is helpful. Get a magnifying glass since they now print the contents in such fine print that one can hardly read them under normal conditions.

We've been lulled to sleep by tantalizing commercials that show healthy people consuming industry products. None of them show what happens to their bodies after years or decades of using the same substances. How about diabetes, or cardiovascular disorders, heart attacks, obesity, strokes, or fatty liver disease? Some can actually trigger tumor growth.

We're wise when we pay attention to the things we put into our bodies. None of you would put high-fructose-corn syrup in your gas tank. Yet, we think nothing of putting things that can easily be toxic into our mouths with our "food."

As a bridge-builder, I want to give you the information to enable you to live with and enjoy a healthy body and disorder-free lifetime.

Be healthy.

Nancy Pidutti, PhD (NHH), Author, Chaplain