People with digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Chron’s disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or candida overgrowth should be especially careful when consuming foods labeled “sugar-free.” A 2017 study published in the journal Advances in Nutrition found that polyols, which are also naturally found in plants, can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, flatulence, and laxative effects in people with IBS.
According to functional medicine physician Dr. Amy Myers, consuming sugar alcohols when you have SIBO or candida overgrowth is tantamount to making things worse. “Sugar alcohols feed opportunistic candida and excess bacteria that colonize in the small intestine the same way as regular table sugar,” which, as the expert explained, can lead to constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. People who have sensitivities to FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) should be careful when consuming sugar-free foods. While there certainly are times when we wish we had a poop button to help keep things moving, diarrhea is obviously not the answer.
