Should Fruits Containing Sorbitol Be Eaten Less?

Sorbitol is the main substance produced by photosynthesis of Rosaceae plants, and is widely used in sweetener processing. Sorbitol is contained in fruits such as cherries, dark plums, apples, pears, and grapes. Sorbitol is an artificial sweetener, which has the functions of moisturizing, preventing the precipitation and crystallization of sugar and salt, and helping to maintain the aroma of the food itself. It is widely used in chemical industry, medicine and food processing.

What is sorbitol and which fruits contain it?

Sorbitol, as the name suggests, is related to sweetness. It is a substance produced by the main photosynthesis of Rosaceae plants and is widely used in the processing and production of sweeteners. Its sweetness is about half that of sucrose, and its caloric value is close to that of sucrose. 1 gram of sorbitol produces approximately 16.7 kilojoules of heat in the human body. It is not converted to glucose after being absorbed by the body, so it is not affected by insulin. Because sorbitol itself has stability and can enhance the flavor of food, it is widely extracted and used by various food processing enterprises. Experiments have found that food-source sorbitol can be metabolized by Clostridium difficile and promote its infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The researchers said that avocados, blackberries, cherries, apples, pears, grapes and many other fruits contain sorbitol, and patients with inflammatory bowel disease should reduce their consumption of these fruits. If you don‘’t have intestinal problems and blood sugar problems, then these sorbitol-rich fruits can be eaten casually, and it is very healthy to ensure 500 grams of fruit intake every day. But if you have intestinal metabolic problems, such as intestinal polyp surgery, other intestinal inflammation, and blood sugar problems, you should use fruits rich in sorbitol with caution, or control your intake every day.

Sorbitol was isolated from strawberries by the French in 1958, and China began special extraction and processing in Dalian city in 1961. Because sorbitol is stable, not easy to be destroyed, and is soluble in water, it has a moisturizing effect, and it can also prevent the precipitation and crystallization of sugar and salt, which is beneficial to maintain the aroma of the food itself. Therefore, as a plant isolate, sorbitol is widely used in chemical industry, medicine and food processing. It can be directly made into vitamin C through fermentation and synthesis, and many raw materials of vitamin C come from this. It is also used as a moisturizer in toothpaste, tobacco, and cosmetics. Sorbitol as an additive must be marked in the food ingredient list. As a sugar substitute, it is low in calories, so it is used in many diet foods (including diet drinks, ice cream, etc.), mints and cough syrups. It is also used as a humectant in low-moisture foods such as biscuits, peanut butter, and dried fruit.

Important hints:

1. As a drug, sorbitol is mainly used to reduce intraocular pressure, reduce intracranial intracranial pressure, and reduce tissue edema and other symptoms. Generally, it is used by injection during hospitalization.

2. Sorbitol itself has no carcinogenicity and belongs to the safety level, so it is widely used in various industries. Especially cosmetic moisturizing, the effect is remarkable. Some preservatives in cosmetics are prone to rotten faces, but they have nothing to do with sorbitol.

3. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol with low sugar content. Diabetic friends can eat a small amount without affecting blood sugar.

4. The content of sorbitol in fruit will not exceed 2%, which is very low, so eating an apple a day will not cause intestinal discomfort. Just control the total amount.

5. Take apples, peaches, plums and pears as benchmark fruits with high and low sorbitol content, and arrange them in descending order: pears, plums, apples, and finally peaches.

6. Some friends with constipation can be relieved with sorbitol, but it should not be taken for a long time, as there will be side effects.

7. Polyol is the culprit of abdominal flatulence, and sorbitol is a kind of polyol. Some vegetables also contain sorbitol, such as green peppers and corn.