More and more people are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle and are interested in the composition of products and the safety of food additives. One of the most common and harmless is sorbitol. What is it, know those who are looking for a means to lose weight, and patients with diabetes. In addition, this substance is often used in the treatment of certain diseases. It is considered safe, has no side effects and low-calorie. Therefore, sorbitol is now added to many products.
What it is
This substance is a hexatomic alcohol. It is also known as "glucite" or as a food supplement E420.
It is an odorless white crystalline substance with a pleasant sweetish taste. It is well soluble in water, has a laxative and choleretic effect. When added to food products, sorbitol not only replaces sugar, but also prolongs its
shelf life due to its hygroscopicity. In addition, it does not lose its properties during heat treatment and even when boiling. Sorbitol is half as sweet as sugar, but more nutritious. True, insulin is not required for its absorption. This sweet substance is not a carbohydrate, but is easily converted into fructose in the blood. This explains its widespread use by diabetics. They specifically buy sorbitol instead of sugar. What is it, also known to lovers of dietary pastries, jams and sweets.
Where is sorbitol used?
1. In the food industry it is used as a sweetener, emulsifier and color stabilizer. In addition, it has water-retaining and complexing properties. It is added to marmalade, pastries, preserves and drinks. Confectionery with this substance in the composition does not stale longer and retain freshness.
2. In cosmetology, sorbitol is added to creams, lotions, shampoos and toothpastes. It not only has preservative and water-retaining properties, but also resists microbes.
3. In the pharmaceutical industry, sorbitol is a filler in gelatin capsules, added to vitamin preparations, cough syrups and ointments. It is part of ascorbic acid and many other well-known drugs.
5. This substance is also used in the chemical, leather and paper industries.
Medical use of sorbitol
This is a sweetener of natural origin - it is extracted from starch. A lot of this substance is found in mountain ash, seaweed, pineapple and other plants. It is harmless and has many beneficial properties for humans.
Therefore, in pharmacies it is easy to purchase sorbitol. The instruction for use recommends using it for such diseases:
- as a laxative for constipation and chronic colitis;
- as a choleretic agent for cholecystitis and biliary dyskinesia;
- in acute and chronic liver diseases. Often sorbitol is used together with rosehip to cleanse it. Such a procedure of tubage is carried out in a hospital and is very effective for improving liver function;
- with diabetes and hypoglycemia, sorbitol is very useful. It turns into fructose in the body, but does not require insulin for this process;
- a solution of sorbitol is used for renal failure and for washing the bladder;
- Previously, it was used in radiological and other diagnostic studies, for example, blind sounding.
Is this substance useful?
A lot of people now use sorbitol for different purposes. Reviews of him say that he perfectly replaces sugar, but is devoid of many of its shortcomings. For example, sorbitol is a mild laxative and cleanses the liver and intestines from toxins. It normalizes the activity of the stomach and stimulates the secretion of digestive juice, has a diuretic and choleretic effect.
In addition, when used in the body, vitamins of group B are consumed less, and intestinal microflora is normalized. Some even try to use sorbitol for weight loss. Its price is low and you can buy it at any store in the dietetic department. White crystalline powder is diluted in water or added to tea, compotes and pastries. But doctors do not recommend getting involved in this drug, since it also has side effects.
Sorbitol Harm
It is generally believed that this substance is absolutely harmless and can be used by everyone who does not have individual intolerance. But with excessive use, unpleasant consequences are still possible:
bloating, flatulence;
- diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting;
- dizziness and weakness;
- In patients with diabetes, hyperglycemia is possible.
Typically, these symptoms quickly disappear after you stop taking the drug. But it is not recommended to use sorbitol in patients with irritable bowel syndrome or fructose intolerance.
Those people who decide to give up sugar to improve their health should pay attention to sorbitol. What this is, many already know, but not everyone realizes that this sweetener and nutritional supplement is also a medicine.