We chose to create a product that has no sugar alcohols, but why?!
Well, we looked at sugar-free mints and were shocked to learn that they were just replaced with sugar alcohols as the main ingredient.
So we asked, what even is a sugar alcohol?
"The term “sugar alcohol” is misleading: It’s neither sugar nor alcohol. “Sugar alcohols are a type of carbohydrate and have a chemical structure that’s similar to sugar."
Common sugar alcohols in breath mints include:
- Xylitol
- Mannitol
- Sorbitol
- Maltitol"
What is the difference?
“Sugar is also digested easily and used for energy in the body. Sugar alcohols, on the other hand, are not absorbed or digested fully.”
They also tend to be less calories, low glycemic index, and pose as less dental risk.
That leads us to what are the issues and reasoning as to why we chose not to include sugar alcohols in Mintier?
Digestive issues.
"In a 2006 British study, researchers gave participants doses of sugar or a sugar alcohol (xylitol).Those taking xylitol reported bloating, gas, upset stomach and diarrhea."
Basically, the terminology of 'sugar-free' products is incredibly misleading, as they are typically full of sugar alcohols. With many consumers dealing with digestive issues like IBS, bloating, and gas, we decided to create the only breath freshener without sugar AND sugar alcohols.
Meet, Mintier.
Resources: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-know-about-sugar-alcohols/