I can't remember what was said about the sugar alcohols in sugar-free choc. I know some people have to run to the bathroom after eating them, but what if it doesn't affect you that way? Does that mean that sugar alcohols affect you the same way that sugar does?

shawny

Yes, Shawny. That's the theory, anyway, and it has proven to be true for me. My blood sugar goes way up, way fast, but I get almost no digestive disturbance.


If you use search words such as maltitol or sugar alcohol in the "find" function, you will be able to locate discussions on many topics.

HTH

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160)/Maintaining nicely (110) ~~ Redhead until further notice!

I think it also depends on the QUANTITY you consume - I can eat TWO pieces with no ill effects, no cravings, no crash. I haven't tested the limits of how MANY it would take to cause me gastric distress!

I also don't WANT more than two at a time though, honestly, and I used to be a sweet freak - for me, these work out well and don't set me up for a binge. YMMV and I think it's very individual on these chocolates!

Also Hershey's makes some that are Splenda=sweetened, but I don't care for them as much as the Russell Stover's which are primarily maltitol.

There is another sweetener called Erythritol which supposedly doesn't cause digestive upset AND no blood sugar spikes either - I know Maggie has been experimenting with it - but I don't know how widely used it is in store-bought goodies yet!

Char

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

So are you saying that if it makes you run to the bathroom...it will cause stalls
or most likely it won't?

Maria
177/159/125
LC since 8/8/03

Maria,

The THEORY is that if you run to the bathroom it WON'T cause stalls, because you're not absorbing it, therefore more left in the colon.

Remember, this is a theory and I am not aware of any research yet. I am just one anecdote.

Here's an article that lays out what information is known and what the author's conclusions are. It seems reasonable to me, since I seem to fit right into it. Glycerine, Sugar Alcohols, Etc.

Everyone has to figure out how various foods in various amounts acts on his or her individual metabolism. We can look at guidelines and listen to each other's experiences, but each of us must go to school, so to speak, majoring in "me."

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160)/Maintaining nicely (110) ~~ Redhead until further notice!

I eat it and run, and it does not have an effect on my weight. I can only eat one piece at a time without going. I guess, this is a good thing. It keeps me from eating the whole bag at once .

Susan ( AKA Northwest)
207/176/160

Thank you for your answer. I have been eating sugar free chocolate and I think that sometimes it affects me and other times it does not. I usually only eat no more than 2 pieces in one day though. Once I've had those two, I am satisfied, but I eat them as an alternative to late night sweet snacking and it helps tremendously. I just don't want to be sabotaging my own weight loss efforts. So far, I'm still not sure. I think I will watch more closely now. Thanks all.

shawny

You know.. last time I replied to a topic like this I had never had any problems with it makeing me run to the bathroom, however it did stall me so I would have to count all the carbs. That was until I encountered a different brand of LC chocolates than I am use to eating.. and OOOOHHHHH boy did it make me run and talk intestianal distress! WOWOWOWOW or should I say.. OWOWOWOW! Well of course I wasn't a 100% sure that those chocolates are what made me feel that way because it could have just been an intestinal bug...so... a few days later I tried it again. YUP sure enought it WAS the chocolates! Since then I have not touched them! SO.. beware... just because 1 brand or 2 brands don't affect you ... the 3rd brand might bite a bit.

Tanya


Member since Jan 2002
re-started on 1-3-03
272/194/185<--(next goal)

My experience was that some did not cause stomach distress, some did (Hershey's were the worst) but they all caused me to stall. Big time. I have had to give them all up and eat more naturally in order to not stall.
Just hard facts of life for me.

Shortie19
224+/201/130
Since 1/1/03
http://www.lowcarbeating.com/lcesupporter.gif

The sugar free, sugar alcohols used to not affect me at all. The more I have (over the past year) the more I am affected. Now just a couple pieces and I have to hit the bathroom. I could clear a room (if you know what I mean) after just one piece. Some brands are worse than others so beware.

Started Oct. 16, 2002. 188/165/150