Why Does Sugar-Free Food Act Like a Laxative....

from DIABETIES FORECAST, The Healthy Living Magazine 2010, Nina Watson, RN, MSN, CDE


A wide variety of artificial sweeteners are used in sugar-free foods. A number of symptons have been attributed to the presence of these additives in food, and whether or not you experience those symptoms may depend on your individual sensitivity to different types of sweeteners.


The primary culprits that cause the laxative effect are sugar alcohols, also known as polyols. Sugar alcohols come from plant products such as fruits and berries. They have what is called an osmotic effect. They act much like the concentrated fructose (the form of sugar in fruit) that is found in prunes. 


The fructose pulls fluid into the gut, and when it's ingested in large amounts, it can result in bloating and diarrhea. Most people can tolerate sugar alcohols only in small amounts. Some of the common ones include mannitol, sorbitol, eylitol, lactitol, and maltitol.


Other sweeteners like Splenda, have been reported to cause diarrhea as well. A sensitivity to or intolerance of artificial sweeteners may produce other symptoms, too. If you do experience problems with bloating, diarrhea, or other problems after consuming artificial sweeteners, you should limit or avoid the foods that contain that product.


Also, remember that a sugar-free food item is not necessarily colorie or carbohydrate-free. Be sure to read the nutritional label and consider how that product fits into your daily meal plan.


Note: I have had these types of problems, and have found that if I limit myself to three small chocolate covered pretzels with the chocolate sugar-free, I can live with that. Once upon a time I ate about a dozen of these sugar-free, small chocolate covered pretzels, and I was sick for a week because of it. I use Murray's sugar-free maple syrup; but, I don't use a lot of it on pancakes. I never eat more than three of anything that is sugar-free.