[LMB] Sugarless gum, was dentist

[Mark Allums]

Kevin Kennedy wrote:
> Probably, but remember that the sorbitol( I think thats the 
sweetener in a lot of sugarless gum), is also a major ingedient
in exlax type products. Chew too much in a day and you'll spend
plenty of time sitting in the bathroom. Take a book.
> Kevin.

Yeah.  You can't chew too much of that caffeine gum, there
is a *lot* of caffeine in it.  One stick or a piece or two
is the equivalent of a cup or two of coffee.

A bit of trivial knowledge I have is that those sweeteners
that end in -ol, like maltitol, xylitol, sorbitol, etc.,
are actually alcohols*.  The reason they have fewer or no
calories, or don't contribute to cavities, is the same
reason they cause diarrhea and gas, we don't have the ability
to digest them properly.  We lack enzymes, or some such.
Apparently, for some of them, the bacteria can't digest them,
either.


--Mark Allums

* Sugar alcohols, technically.  And cholesterol is an alcohol,
as well.