Sorbitol it is often used as an artificial sweetener in sugar-free candies, soft drinks and chewing gums. It has about one-third less calories than sucrose or common table sugar, making it a popular choice. Sorbitol, or glucitol, is a sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in fruits and berries. Yet, the content of sorbitol varies and some fruits have a higher content than others.
Highest Levels of Sorbitol
Fruits with stones such as apricots, nectarines, cherries and peaches have a high sorbitol content. Pears, plums and dates have the highest content of sorbitol, which gives them a laxative effect. Sorbitol takes a long time to absorb in the intestines and it can produce gas, making you feel bloated. Diarrhoea may be a problem if sorbitol consumption exceeds 50g/day. Consuming fruits with high levels of sorbitol can make children develop gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea or abdominal pain. Sorbitol contains less calories than sugar but some people find sorbitol less sweet so they may consume more sorbitol than sugar.
- Fruits with stones such as apricots, nectarines, cherries and peaches have a high sorbitol content.
- Pears, plums and dates have the highest content of sorbitol, which gives them a laxative effect.
Comaprision of Sorbitol Levels
Apples contain less sorbitol than pears, dates and plums. The level of sorbitol is 0.017 per 99.8gr. in apples as compared to 198gr. per 9979gr. of fruit weight for pears, dates and plums. Fresh plums, peaches and apricots have similar levels of sorbitol, 992gr. per 9979gr. of fruit weight
- Apples contain less sorbitol than pears, dates and plums.
Low Levels
Citrus fruits, such as oranges, and grapes contain no sorbitol. Drinking orange juice is an alternative to apple and pear juice, which both contain sorbitol. Pineapples contain no sorbitol; grapes have traces of sorbitol. White grape juice is considered a suitable juice is your have intestinal problems as it lacks sorbitol.
- Citrus fruits, such as oranges, and grapes contain no sorbitol.
Dreid Fruits
Dried fruits have a higher sugar content and contain higher levels of sorbitol than fresh fruits. Dried apples contain less sorbitol than dried pears, plums, peaches and apricots. Dried pears contain the highest sorbitol level of plums, peaches and apricots. The highest level of sorbitol can be found in prunes or dried plums. The level of sorbitol per 9979gr. fruit weight is 284gr. for apples, 992gr. for pears, 794gr. for plums, and 482gr. for peaches and apricots
- Dried fruits have a higher sugar content and contain higher levels of sorbitol than fresh fruits.
- The highest level of sorbitol can be found in prunes or dried plums.