In recent times, there’s been a growing awareness among people about the negative impacts of sugar on their health and how it contributes to weight gain. This awareness has prompted food companies to explore alternative methods of sweetening their products without adding regular sugar. By doing so, these companies aim to appeal to consumers who are actively seeking to avoid sugar and its detrimental effects on their health and weight. Among the various artificial sweeteners available, maltitol has been increasingly used in a range of products, including candies, chocolates, ice cream, fruit juices, and even chewing gum, often marketed as “sugar-free.” However, questions arise regarding the safety of maltitol and its suitability as a sugar substitute for individuals on a diet or aiming to lose weight. So, let’s find out:
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What is Malitol?
Maltitol is a sugar alcohol, often used as an artificial sweetener, commonly used in candies, chocolates, ice cream, baked products, and other such confectionary items, so that they can be labeled “sugar free.” Malitol is extracted from starch of maize and wheat. It’s a vegan product and tastes sweet and is a popular sugar alternative.
Is Malitol Good For Weight Loss?
The popularity of malitol comes from the fact that there are just half as calories as found in white sugar. Regular sugar has 4 calories per gram whereas malitol has only 2 calories per gram. Glycemic index of table sugar is 63 and malitol is 52. The glycemic index is a measure of how much a food affects the blood sugar. A high-Gl food would raise blood sugar rapidly whereas a low GI food would not spike up blood sugar quickly.
Even though malitol has some advantages over regular sugar, but it’s still a form of sugar with calories and a glycemic index that inches towards the “medium” range. Moreover, if you are frantically picking up “sugar free” products, we would like to tell you that individuals experience digestive issues such as gas, bloating, stomach pain, etc. with overconsumption of malitol. There are some reports that it can also worsen symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
It’s crucial to inform individuals with diabetes that maltitol, despite being used in sugar-free products, can still raise blood sugar levels. Therefore, switching to maltitol-based sugar-free products would not provide significant benefits for managing diabetes. It’s essential for individuals with diabetes to cut down sugar intake and monitor their blood sugar levels closely.
Additionally, regardless of the form of sugar or sweetener consumed, it’s important for everyone, including those who are trying to lose weight, to be mindful of their sugar intake. Unchecked consumption of sugars, whether from regular sugar or alternative sweeteners like maltitol, can lead to weight gain and other health complications. Keeping a check on calorie intake, eating healthy, exercising regularly, and following a good diet plan is important to lose weight. Find such diet plans on the Rati Beauty app, subscribe to access all our diet plans, including the Speed Slim challenge.
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