You may be familiar
with other sugar alcohols like xylitol, sorbitol, and malitol used in sugar - free candies and chewing gum.
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol and because it is not fully absorbed
like other sugar alcohols, such as xylitol, sorbitol, etc., it therefore produces digestive disorders for many people = gas, bloating, loose bowels.
Unlike
most other sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, and maltitol, erythritol does not cause bloating or gas when used in the modest quantities such as those typical in low - carb baking recipes.
Lately erythritol is gaining momentum as a replacement for
other sugar alcohols in food, as it is much less likely to produce gastrointestinal distress.
Please be aware that eating xylitol or
other sugar alcohols in high amounts can cause digestive irritation or bloating.
I had lumped erythritol into a bucket with
the other sugar alcohols, but it actually appears to work differently.
Your body processes it a lot differently than
other sugar alcohols.
Erythritol is less likely than
other sugar alcohols to have this effect, and everyone's threshold is different.
Sugar alcohols are generally better tasting sweeteners than the Stevia or the artificial sweeteners and I like that it does not have the laxative effect of
some other sugar alcohols.
Be sure it is pure monk fruit and does not contain erythritol or
any other sugar alcohols.
While many of
the other sugar alcohols also have low GIs they can have side effects such as abdominal cramping if taken in even moderate quantities.
Erythrol is also a sugar alcohol and has near identical impact on digestion as Xyletol as
any other sugar alcohol does.
Pure xylitol also does not usually produce the gas or bloating associated with
other sugar alcohols.
It has a higher glycemic index than most
other sugar alcohols and so is not as useful for diabetics though still safe if consumed in moderation.
Like
other sugar alcohols (xylitol, mannitol etc) it has a slightly laxative effect and it is not recommended to consume more than 50 gm per day.
It is somewhat useful for diabetics, however it can have a higher glycemic index than
other sugar alcohols.
Like erythritol or
other sugar alcohols like sorbitol and xylitol, it provides the sweet flavour of sugar without actually being sugar...
Xylitol is widely available and has a low incidence of abdominal discomfort with overconsumption, which can be a problem with
other sugar alcohols.
Erythritol is not a sugar — it is a very weird sugar alcohol: it is absorbed pretty well (unlike various other sugar alcs), but is mostly excreted in the urine, unchanged, whereas most
other sugar alcohols, if they are absorbed, are oxidized for their 4 Cals / gram of energy.
The wonderful thing about erythritol is that 90 % of it is absorbed in the small intestine, and so one doesn't typically experience the gastrointestinal side - effects seen with
other sugar alcohols (such as xylitol).
I believe it may be because Lakanto is made via fermentation while
the other sugar alcohols are made from hydrogenation.
Sorbitol and
the other sugar alcohols can commonly be found in gum, candy, and other «sugar - free» foods.