Sorbitol, a sugar alcohol often used in as a sweetener in candy and diabetic food, has been attributed to the occurrence of certain allergic reactions, known as sorbitol intolerance. Sorbitol is commonly used in the production of chewing gum, sugar-free sweets, and diabetic & diet foods, among other food types. It is produced naturally by the human body, and also occurs in beer, fruits and berries. You can also find it in certain medicines, such as cough syrups, mouth washes and laxative, and cosmetic products. As compared to normal household sugars, sorbitol is less probable to cause dental carries and also has fewer calories. It absorption rate in the small intestine is much slower than normal sugars. As result, this allows even moderate doses to reach the colon for fermentation. A big number of healthy individuals can develop gas, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and cramps due to a consumption of 5g and above of sorbitol. This is what is referred to as sorbitol intolerance.
Famously known as glucitol, sorbital is a sugar alcohol which is slowly metabolized by the human body. Apples, pears and peaches are the rich source of sorbitol. Sorbitol is dietary energy and sweetener that is used as sugar substitute. Diet foods, mints, cough syrups and sugar free chewing gums often contain sorbitol as additive. Sorbitol also has its worth in the field of medicine and participates in the cure of human body from some irregularities. Along with mouth washes, tooth pastes, and some transparent gels, sorbitol is also used in some cosmetics as thickener.
Diabetics and weight watchers are known to consume foods that are mostly sugar-free and when you eat sugar free foods, you are also consuming a product called Sorbitol, a sugar substitute that is used in these products. Sorbitol also goes by the name glucitol and it is a sugar alcohol that is metabolized by the body by reducing the glucose level found in the body. As a sugar substitute, it is listed as an inactive ingredient found in a number of artificial food products.
Must-Know on Sorbitol Allergy
It must be the sweets…
If you love eating chocolates and candies, gums, and all those sweet pleasures, then you must have been consuming a lot of sorbitol already. If you don’t have any history of food allergy then it’s great; otherwise, you should be careful about processed sweet products. Sorbitol is a substitute for sugar and commonly used in making artificial food products. Sorbitol is also used for dietary drinks because it contains fewer calories than the ordinary sugar.