Sugar Alcohols.. Yay or Nay?

[Daisalana 33]

When I did Atkins, sugar alcohol was a saving grace for me when I was craving something bad. Russell Stovers made a great line of sugar-free candies using sugar alcohol which did not 'count' on the Atkins diet.

I was wanting to know, since right now I'm having to cut back my sugar if Sugar Alcohol affects the liver? I'm having to shrink my liver.. don't want to mess it up, but couldn't find any information online about the effects of sugar alcohol on the liver.

[Wheetsin 714]

Sugar alcohols (compared to sugar) have about half the calories but are less sweet so more is used. Since they aren't absorbed completely, they have a lower glycemic response - hence their acceptance on many low carb diets.

About 40 - 60% of the sugar alcohol is digested.

So my advice would be to avoid them when you're working to shrink your liver.

I too followed Atkins (the induction phase for over a year), and never let sugar alcohols go by free and clear. I ALWAYS counted them in my carb allowance, because I was still absorbing them. A lot of people think they go through unabsorbed, but unfortunately that's not the case.

[sasha 0]

i dont know what they do but i remember i used to always get diarrhea after eating one of dem low carb bars with sugar alcohols.

[dwill 0]

im wondering if hard candy - such as sugar free life savers- or crystal lite candies is bad? Also- i was craving frozen yogurt the other night- but all they had was sherbert... is that bad?

[waterlily1072 5]

It is my understanding that the brown fat on the liver is the first fat your body burns when starting to lose weight. It doesn't matter how you lose the weight just that you do. Many surgeons like the liquid diets for whatever reason but not all do that. I merely had to lose 10lbs in the 2weeks prior to surgery (actually just had to do my best). At his request I stuck to an 800cal per day diet. Let me tell you pre band that is hard! I was so hungry, but I didn't want to risk surgery being more difficult because of my fatty liver so I did it. I fyou can eat sugar alcohols and still lose what your surgeon wants you to then go for it, unless he tells you not to for some reason.

[Daisalana 33]

Well they told me to cut out sugar, salt, and greasy foods. They said I need to shrink my liver. This isn't part of the pre-op diet, just a warning due to my liver size. I've been doing good really, cut out the major daily sugar I intake.. cokes. Also been watching what I eat, but I am PMSIng and craving chocolate, so I got the Russell Stover's sugar-free coconut bars. When I did Atkins back in the day, I used Ketosis strips to check my Ketosis (I was a little obsessed with those things..) and when I ate sugar alcohol it did not seem to affect it. I'm not talking about gorging, I just never knew the affects of Sugar Alcohol outside of Atkins. And yes, sugar alcohol/malatol does cause diarhea, but normally only in large quantities. I binged on a bag of sugar-free gummie bears on Atkins and paid for it all night!!

In less than a week I have to start the SSS diet of Sandwhiches, Soups, Salads.. and then 3 days pre-op I am to do the clear liquid diet, and day before the magnesium and Protein shakes.