Most of the chewing gums available in the market are made with sugar alcohols, which is a type of sweetener that is utilized in place of sugar. Since the sugar alcohols have a smaller amount of calories per gram than sugar, these can help the individual with his/her weight-loss efforts. The sugar alcohols are also suitable for overall dental health since they do not promote the development of cavities. On the other hand, the individual will discover that the consumption of excessive level of sugar alcohols either through chewing gum or eating certain foods can result to the development of digestive issues such as bloating, gas and diarrhea.
What are sugar alcohols?
The sugar alcohols are not sweeter than sugar but they contain fewer calories. These are utilized as ingredients in various foods including candy, chocolate, dessert products, fruit spreads and even chewing gum. The common sugar alcohols utilized in food processing include mannitol, lactitol, sorbitol and xylitol. Sorbitol and xylitol are usually present in chewing gum. Oftentimes, they are combined with other artificial sweeteners such as sucralose or aspartame to help improve the sweetness of certain products.
Digestive side effects
Sugar alcohols are not completely absorbed into the intestinal system. The smaller doses can lead to digestive issues such as cramps, gas or bloating. The symptoms are often dosage dependent, thus the more taken in, the more likely to experience symptoms and experience severe symptoms. The sugar alcohols can trigger an osmotic effect once they reach the intestines, resulting to an influx of water into the intestines that leads to diarrhea. If an individual develops any symptoms including diarrhea, it is best that you are prepared to handle the symptom. All you have to do is to register for first aid training today in your area.
Dosage
The symptoms of bloating and gas tend to occur even with the consumption of only 5 grams of certain sugar alcohols. The osmotic diarrhea will develop after the consumption of 20-50 grams. Nevertheless, some highly sensitive individuals can suffer from diarrhea even with only 10 grams.
It is important to note that chewing gum typically contains 1-2 grams of sugar alcohols per piece. This indicates that chewing only a few pieces of gum throughout the day can trigger symptoms depending on the amount of sugar alcohol used in the gum and the sensitivity of the individual to the particular ingredient.
Considerations to bear in mind
If an individual experiences gastrointestinal upset or diarrhea and might believe that is due to sugar alcohols, a doctor must be consulted for proper assessment and diagnosis. The individual might be required to eliminate these products or minimize the amount consumed in his/her diet. It is vital to check the labels carefully of the chewing gum eaten to see if it contains a sugar alcohol such as xylitol or sorbitol.