What are polyols?

Polyol Molecule
Modification of original image by Bin im Garten (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Polyols, also known as sugar-alcohols, are a group of naturally sweet carbohydrates found in several plants, stone fruits, vegetables, and plant fibres. Polyols are commonly used to replace sugar in many sugar-free foods, toothpaste, and diabetic confections; some are formulated for use in pharmaceutical products. Sugar alcohols offer several physiological benefits, such as reducing the glycaemic response after eating, preventing tooth decay, supporting a healthy blood glucose level and assisting in weight management due to their low-calorie count. Although sweet-tasting, they are sugar-free; this is a confusing dynamic to understand!

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