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Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is 60% as sweet as sugar and has fewer calories. It is used in food, cosmetics, and medical products, and is safe in small amounts, but can cause side effects in large amounts.
Sorbitol is an artificial sweetener that has 1/3 fewer calories than sugar, but is used for more than just sweetening foods and beverages. It has several cosmetic and medical applications and is added to oral health products. It is found in pears, peaches, apples, plums, seaweeds and some berries.
This sweetener is actually a sugar alcohol also known as glucitol. It is a white powder or liquid that has a sweet taste and is odorless. Unlike other sugar alternatives, however, it only has about 60% of the sweetness of sugar, yet is 10 times sweeter than xylitol. It is very slow to metabolise in the body, which reduces the chance of insulin levels rising. This makes sorbitol a good sweetener for diabetics.
Sorbitol is one of the more familiar sugar substitutes and is a frequent addition to diet foods. Low-calorie candy, ice cream, baked goods, and chewing gum are commonly made with this sweetener. Foods made with this ingredient stay fresh and moist longer than those made with most other nutritious sweeteners. A small amount added to peanut butter improves spreadability and prevents it from becoming dry and crumbly. It is also added to shredded coconut to keep the flakes moist.
Cosmetic products are often thickened with sorbitol. It can be added to chew tobacco to improve flavor and to cigarettes to prevent the tobacco inside from breaking down and crumbling. Mouthwashes and toothpastes are made clearer and more pleasant with the addition of this sugar alcohol, as are cough drops and syrups. Hair gels and shampoos also often contain sorbitol.
Laxatives are sometimes made with sorbitol, usually in liquid or enema form. When used in this form, the intestines are stimulated as it retains water within the colon and increases muscle movements. It is also used as an irrigation solution during urinary and prostate surgeries to prevent infection and is given by injection. Sorbitol can be combined with Kayexalate to remove excess potassium from the body when medically needed. Most people, including the elderly, can usually use these products safely.
While safe in small to moderate amounts, the substance does have some harmful side effects when too much is consumed. They include dry mouth, excessive thirst, dehydration, and edema. When larger amounts are ingested, it can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and bloating. Less commonly, it can cause dizziness and irritability. Those with gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome should not use any products containing sorbitol.
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