There are media reports that the Knowles mooncakes are suspected to have caused some diners to suffer from diarrhea as a result of excessive sugar substitution with maltitol by the foundry. Maltitol can be seen in the ingredient list of many foods, why would there be diarrhea after consumption? With sugar alcohols to replace sucrose produced by low-sugar, sugar-free moon cakes can still eat? With these questions, the people’s network reporter invited nutrition experts, for consumers to reveal the secret “healthy moon cakes” truth!
Why does maltitol reduce sugar?
Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oriental Hospital Nutrition Department doctor Wei Guo, maltitol belongs to a kind of polyols, can be added to the food instead of sucrose, to increase the sweetness of the food.
“But unlike sucrose, maltitol provides only 1/10 of the energy provided by sucrose and does not rapidly raise blood sugar, so maltitol is a sweetener that can be consumed by people with diabetes.” Wei Guo said, at the same time, maltitol is not easy to be broken down by microorganisms into acid, has a certain anti-caries effect. If maltitol and fat are ingested at the same time, it can also prevent the accumulation of fat in the body, so obese people and children can also use it as a sweetener.
Is it true that ingesting maltitol can cause diarrhea?
“Sugar alcohols do not break down in the stomach, but go directly to the intestines. Sugar alcohol into the intestines, part of the intestinal bacteria are used by the intestinal bacteria and gas production, which in turn appears to be bloating, intestinal chirping, and in severe cases, diarrhea will also occur.” Wei Guo explained that these reactions are actually normal, as long as not over-eating, most people do not have diarrhea problems. Sugar alcohols in maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, mannitol, erythritol, isomalt ketone sugar alcohols have been widely used by a number of countries, is an internationally recognized alternative to sucrose.
Registered dietitian, China’s good nutrition popularizer Yu Liang also said that maltitol as a sweetener, there is a scope of use, and can not be used relatively unrestricted like sucrose.
“The human body’s maximum tolerable amount of maltitol is about 20g, and if it exceeds 20g, osmotic diarrhea is likely to occur. Therefore, maltitol must be taken care of when used in food.” Yu Liang stated.
Wei Guo, some studies have shown that the intake of maltitol in 0.3g / Kg, will not produce diarrhea, but the specific intake of sugar alcohols and food added to the dose, the amount of food, so some countries containing sugar alcohols and oligosaccharides in health food labeling requirements indicate that “excessive consumption can lead to diarrhea”.
Wei woman suggested that the amount of sugar alcohols should be controlled within 20g per day, children are controlled within 10g.
Does “sucrose-free” equal “sugar-free”?
“Of course not! For sugar-free snack foods, the starch they contain is technically considered sugar. Sucrose-free just do not add additional sucrose only.” Wei Guo said.
Yu Liang also said that sucrose-free is not the same as sugar-free, and sucrose-free foods sometimes have a sweet taste because, inside the food, some sugar substitute products, sweeteners or other sugars that are not sucrose are used, so it’s important to read the food’s ingredient list to understand the secrets behind it.
As Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, all kinds of mooncakes with low-sugar and sugar-free concepts are starting to sell. In this regard, experts suggest that the public should maintain rational knowledge and master the scientific method of consumption.
Yu Liang reminds consumers that the true meaning of sugar-free does not exist! Low-sugar mooncakes is to reduce the use of sucrose or sweeteners to replace sucrose, sugar-free mooncakes just in the mooncake did not add sucrose, and regardless of whether it is low-sugar or sugar-free, mooncake crust itself is sugar.
“In addition to the extra added sugar, mooncakes also contain starch and fat, especially egg yolk mooncakes or meat-filled mooncakes, which are higher in fat. So even low-sugar or sugar-free mooncakes should not be eaten openly.” Wei Guo emphasized.
How to buy the right mooncake for you?
So, how should consumers pick the right mooncake for them? Wei Guo, one is to refer to the ingredient list, see what sweeteners added to the moon cakes, if it is acesulfame, sweeteners and other synthetic sweeteners, is not recommended for young children under the age of 2 years old to eat, if it is aspartame and other proteins such as sugar, suffering from phenylketonuria, children and children under the age of 2 years old can not eat, if the addition of oligofructose or sugar alcohols, prone to diarrhea, the crowd need to control the amount of food.
Second, refer to the nutritional composition table, choose the same weight under the lower energy.
Third, choose a single light weight moon cake, more conducive to controlling the amount of food.
Yu Liang reminded that when shopping, be sure to read the nutrition label on the food package to understand the ingredients and raw materials, so that you have a clear idea. If in doubt, you can consult the relevant people before buying, do not buy mooncakes without a clear manufacturer or from unknown sources.
From the perspective of nutrition and health, moon cakes are ultimately high oil, high sugar, high energy three high food. Wei woman suggested that consumers should be based on their own actual situation, refer to the nutritional composition table on the packaging of food, ingredients list, reasonable selection and eating. Eat moon cakes, to master the three principles: eat less, the amount of food control in the 25-50g per day; reasonable combination, with coarse grains, vegetables, soy, dairy with the consumption of healthier; appropriate exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes, the consumption of energy is equivalent to a piece of 50g of moon cakes provided by the energy.
“The high sugar and oil in mooncakes can lead to excess energy in the body, causing a very high blood sugar response. Consumption in large quantities by those with blood sugar and weight problems can be detrimental to their health. Therefore, it is fine to savor them during the festive season and never eat unlimited amounts.” Yu Liang advises.