Do you ever get gas or diarrhea when you eat sugar free foods?

Question

Do you ever get gas or diarrhea when you eat sugar free foods?

Answer 1

Many of the sweetners have that effect. MSG affects me that way.

Answer 2

This laxative effect is the result of sugar alcohols in the product.  Sugar alcohols are polyols that do not completely break down during digestion.  They can also lead to bloating and gas.  For products containing sugar alcohols you should be very careful not to consume more than the recommended serving size to avoid these problems.

Some sugar alcohols like Isomalt and Mannitol are useful tools for diabetics as they provide very little impact on blood sugar levels, and also do not contribute to tooth decay.

Answer 3

Overconsumption of some artificial sweeteners does indeed have a laxative effect. (Says so on the package.)