Sorbitol: The Sugar in Sugar-Free

 

Sorbitol: The Sugar in Sugar-Free 

Ever wondered how sugarless gum and candy still has a sweet kick?  This could be because of Sorbitol. A special kind of sugar alcohol that gives some sugar-free treats its sweetness. It can be created from corn syrup or found naturally in the fruit you eat such as apples and plums (National Center for Biotechnology Information [NCBI], 2025).

.

 (Graaf, 2017)

Where It Can Be Found

Sorbitol can be found in many different products such as

  • Sugar-free gum - Gives it its sweetness and has cavity preventing properties (Kris Sollid, 2019)

  • Diet candies and mints - Adds sweetness without spiking blood sugar as much as regular sugar (Kris Sollid, 2019)

  • Face washes and other skincare products - Keeps moisture in your skin (Kris Sollid, 2019)

  • Medicine - Can be found in chew-able tablets and liquid medicine (Kris Sollid, 2019)  

Why Use it Over Sugar?

Sorbitol is used over sugar because it has about 66% as many calories as sugar is 60% as sweet. Sorbitol also doesn’t break down in the intestines fully so less calories are absorbed by your body. This helps people with diabetes as it does not spike their blood sugar levels as high as normal sugar does. An additional bonus for when it is consumed is that it helps prevent cavities (Panoff, 2020). Some Sorbitol a day keeps the dentist away!

Fun Fact: Too Much Can Have a Strange Effect

Sorbitol is completely safe to eat but when you eat too much of it, it can cause your stomach to feel funny. When something contains Sorbitol it can have a warning on it that says “ excessive consumption may cause a laxative effect” it means that you may need to go to the washroom for a number 2 (Panoff, 2020). 

Fun Fact: Holds Moisture

Sorbitol is also used in many skincare products since it is a humectant. This means it is good at holding moisture which is a good quality to have when dealing with skin (Zarour et al., 2017).

The next time you’re enjoying an apple or chewing on some sugar-free gum, take a moment to appreciate Sorbitol, the dentist friendly sweetener.

References

Graaf, Q. D. (2017). But what is that? Unsplash. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-face-jlIS1TUEl6w.

Kris Sollid, R. (2019, April 18). What is Sorbitol?. Food Insight. https://foodinsight.org/what-is-sorbitol/

National Center for Biotechnology Information (2025). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5780, Sorbitol. Retrieved January 28, 2025 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sorbitol.

 

Panoff, L. (2020, September 25). What is Sorbitol? benefits, uses, side effects, and more. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-sorbitol

Zarour, K., Vieco, N., Pérez-Ramos, A., Nácher-Vázquez, M., Mohedano, M. L., & López, P. (2017). Food ingredients synthesized by lactic acid bacteria. Microbial Production of Food Ingredients and Additives, 89–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-811520-6.00004-0

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Truth About Nitrates: Fertilizers, Food, and a Hidden Danger

Image
  The Truth About Nitrates: Fertilizers, Food, and a Hidden Danger Nitrates (NO3-) are omnipresent; they are anywhere you look, be it your food, the chemicals you feed your soil with, or the crackers and sparklers you enjoy. So, are they beneficial, harmful, or a bit of both? Let's take a close look at nitrates and learn what they are! What Are Nitrates? Nitrates are the compounds that contain oxygen and nitrogen. Their favorite growth nutrients are plants. For this reason, farmers use a kind of fertilizer that contains nitrates in the soil to enhance their yields. Nitrates are not only soil and fertilizers, their function is also in processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs, where they stop bacteria from reproducing while keeping the meat fresh-looking. Some of the leafy green vegetables, for instance, spinach and lettuce, on the other hand, are also natural sources of nitrates! Are Nitrates Dangerous? Nitrates alone are not harmful, but they become nitrites in the human body and...
Read more

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

Image
(Chemical Safety Facts., 2022) What is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate? Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a surfactant. Surfactant is a fancy word for a chemical that helps wash dirt and oils away. There are many different types of surfactants, but what sets sodium Lauryl Sulphate apart is the fact that it is quite foamy. Some things that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is used in include but are not limited to: Soaps, cleaning products, fruit punches and toothpastes. (Chemical Safety Facts., 2022) Is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Dangerous? Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is “designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food.” Further, it is rated a 1 on EWG’s skin-deep scale. (EWG Skin Deep., n.d.) This means no sufficient evidence concludes that it is dangerous for what it is generally used in. With that being said, two things are also true. First, the “The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated.” (Fisher Scientific Company., 2023) That means that there might be some unknown effects of this...
Read more

Aspirin: Looking at the Science Behind Pain Relief

Image
Aspirin: Looking at the Science Behind Pain Relief Imagine this: You get out of bed and feel a headache, you pop a pill, and the pain slowly fades away, for a temporary time. That pill can be Aspirin! But not many people know how it actually works; let's get into that! Aspirin: What Is It? Aspirin’s chemical formula is (C₉H₈O₄) and it’s also known as acetylsalicylic acid. It’s commonly used for anti-inflammatory purposes, pain, and fever. It’s been around for roughly a century, but its origins go all the way to ancient civilizations which used willow bark. The willow bark contains salicin which is one of the main compounds leading to the creation of Aspirin. How It Works So everyone has special enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) that help create prostaglandins; which is responsible for inflammation and pain. Aspirin literally blocks that, reducing those feelings. It’s a temporary solution though, not a cure. It also helps with stopping blood clots, so some people low-dose it to lower their ...
Read more