Category: Dietary sweeteners

Erythritol, a sugar alcohol found naturally in trace amounts in certain fruits, is widely used commercially as a zero-calorie or low-calorie sweetener in a broad range of food products. It is essential for health-conscious consumers to understand what foods have erythritol in them, as its usage has become commonplace in low-sugar and diet-friendly options.

Over 50% of the world's commercial polyol consumption is sorbitol, a type of sugar alcohol often used to sweeten foods. This hybrid molecule provides sweetness to products like ice cream while reducing the calorie count compared to regular sugar.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for sucralose of 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. Understanding this benchmark is key to answering the question, "How much sucralose is okay in a day?" and ensuring your consumption stays within safe, regulated limits.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can come in different formulations, most commonly HFCS 42 and HFCS 55. While both are liquid sweeteners composed of glucose and fructose, the statement "Is glucose-fructose syrup the same as high fructose corn syrup?" has a nuanced answer that depends on context and geography.

High Reb A stevia is a highly refined extract of the *Stevia rebaudiana* plant, containing a minimum of 95% Rebaudioside A for a clean, sweet taste. This zero-calorie sweetener is an increasingly popular natural alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners, offering intense sweetness without impacting blood sugar.

Did you know that unlike regular sugar, which is rapidly absorbed, sugar alcohols break down much more slowly in the digestive tract? This incomplete absorption is the key reason behind why sugar alcohols are digested slower than regular sugar, influencing blood sugar levels differently and sometimes causing gastrointestinal side effects.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), high-purity stevia extract is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) for use in food, and numerous studies suggest it has little to no impact on blood glucose levels. For diabetics, the primary question remains: does stevia affect diabetics, and is it a safe choice?

While many assume all sugar alcohols are created equal, their sweetness levels can vary from 25% to 100% compared to table sugar. This guide explores the nuanced answer to the question: do sugar alcohols taste sweet, examining the unique flavor profiles and other sensory characteristics of different types.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a liquid sweetener composed of both glucose and fructose, mirroring the composition of standard table sugar (sucrose). While derived from corn starch, it is not simply pure fructose but a mixture of two simple sugars in different ratios, depending on the specific type of HFCS.

Despite both being used as sweeteners, dextrose is not like xylitol, as they belong to entirely different chemical classes with contrasting metabolic effects. While dextrose is a simple sugar with a high glycemic index, xylitol is a sugar alcohol known for its low glycemic impact and dental benefits.