Q: I’ve noticed that more and more diet and sugar-free food products contain ingredients called sugar alcohols. What are they? And are they any better for you than table sugar?

Medically reviewed by Maggie Moon, MS, RD Sugars occur naturally in some foods, such as honey, fruits, and milk. Table sugar is industrially produced from sugar cane and sugar beets. Sugar alcohols ...

It is also commercially produced and added to foods and beverages. Because sugar alcohol gives a sweet taste, it can be used as an alternative to sugar and other sweeteners. Sugar alcohol may be added ...

Sugar alcohols are derived from sugar, usually created by hydrogenating sugar or by fermenting it. Examples of sugar alcohols include xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol.

You can usually spot many sugar alcohols on ingredient lists by “-ol” at the ends of their names. Examples include sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, mannitol, erythritol, and maltitol.

The latest "villain" in the never-ending war against sugar substitutes is erythritol, a sugar alcohol. Is this a sugar? An alcohol? Steve and Irving, our miserable hosts of The Dreaded Chemistry ...

Examples of sugar alcohols (also called polyols) include sorbitol, xylitol and mannitol. These sweeteners are often found in sugar-free chewing gum, candy, cookies and ice cream.

Scientists may have figured out why some people have trouble digesting sorbitol, a sugar alcohol used in sugar-free gum, mints, candy and other products.

Sugar Lounge hookah and cigar bar is an alcohol-free bar with mocktail menu in uptown Charlotte NC. The owners also run Brooklyn Nightclub.

Sugar alcohols can sweeten food and drinks without adding many calories and carbohydrates. They have their uses. But overdo it and you'll feel the consequences.