Sugar Alcohols - Don't be fooled!

I posted this on the MN board, but wanted to share it here too... I know I have read about these from others, and I do try to avoid them, because the "reviews" I've read weren't exactly raving if you know what I mean! So last night I'm at the store, and I figured I'd pick up a protein bar. I selected an Atkins one that had plenty of protein and only 2 sugar alcohols - only TWO! Others had up to 15, so how bad could 2 little ol' ones be...? PRETTY BAD! I spent a good hour in complete agony. I can't say for POSITIVE it was the sugar alcohols, but was it pure coincidence then? My gut felt somewhat like the time I ate over a half can of prunes (hey, they were tasty and I was young... I've chalked that up as a "learning" experience!) Fortunately, the (uh-hem... "end product") was not the same, but the excruciating gut pain was reminiscent... It came on quite suddenly and then (after what seemed like HOURS) it was suddenly just gone... Have any of you had any experience with Sugar Alcohols, if so, was it like that - or was it more like dumping? I'm curious if it really was those 2 nasty little SA's or maybe it was just a coincidence... I'm not a complete idiot, and don't plan to experiment by intentionally eating any more. (ever!) Marilyn

I have problems with sugar alchohol too. Also, I notice that I don't lose weight if I eat products that contain them. I find that the more I eat food in it's most natural state the better I feel and the more weight I lose. I've started buying organic whenever possible.

See with my surgery I don't dump on sugar or sugar alcohols, so I don't get the reminder not to eat. But i do agree with Wanda that the better foods I eat, the better I feel, and the faster the weight comes off. The only things I have trouble eating are potatoes and milk. Darn!

No problems here.. I have had stuff with as much as 14 grams of sugar alcohols and not had a problems with anything yet.... I don't know about regular sugar though, I seem to dump on anything with 3 or more grams... I think.... not really sure on that one.... Personally I normally have the opposite problem than what you had, so I need to eat some popcorn every day and that helps to "regulate" me. But other than that, nothing has effected me in that way yet.... Shawn M.

Marilyn, I personally haven't had any problem with sugar alcohals...I eat the Atkins bars all the time. Unfortunately everyone is different. I have heard that for some people the sugar alcohals act the same way as sugar and so you won't lose weight if you eat too much of them. I just had my first experience with dumping yesterday because I ate a Thai type dish where I didn't think about how much sugar would be in the sauce and was miserable for about 30 minutes. I've completely stayed away from real sugar up to that point but it was a good lesson to make sure I pay attention to what might be in sauces even if the dish is savory. The only other time I get sharp pains is if I don't chew something well enough and eat to fast...and with those dry bars I have to make sure I really chew them well. Also I often will be fine with a food one day and the next it makes me miserable...so who knows. Anyway, just take things slowly. Corinna Q

I haven't had any problems at all with them. Milk products don't like me though Nancy