ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sugar alcohol

So, you know how grown-ups sometimes get sick if they eat too much candy or cake or ice cream? That's because those foods have a lot of sugar in them, and too much sugar isn't good for our bodies.

But sometimes, grown-ups still want to eat sweet things, even if they know it's not the healthiest choice. That's where something called sugar alcohol comes in.

Sugar alcohol is a type of sweetener that is used in some foods instead of regular sugar. It's called "sugar alcohol" because it has a chemical structure that's kind of like sugar and kind of like alcohol.

The neat thing about sugar alcohol is that our bodies don't process it in the same way that they process regular sugar. This means that even though sugar alcohol tastes sweet, it doesn't give us as many calories as regular sugar does. And because it's processed differently, it's less likely to cause blood sugar spikes in people who have diabetes.

Sugar alcohol can be found in all sorts of foods, like candy, cookies, chewing gum, and even some dairy products. Some common types of sugar alcohol that you might see on ingredient labels are xylitol, erythritol, and sorbitol.

Even though sugar alcohol can be a good option for people who want something sweet but don't want all the calories and blood sugar spikes that come with regular sugar, it's still important to remember that it's not a magic fix. Eating too much sugar alcohol can still cause digestive issues like bloating and diarrhea, so it's best to eat it in moderation.

But overall, sugar alcohol can be a helpful tool for grown-ups (and even some five-year-olds!) who want a sweet treat without all the negative side effects of regular sugar.