Eat, Sleep, Drive & Eat Some More
It seems like I am eating all time on this tour. Maybe because I'm not doing much of anything else, other than sleeping and driving. And even when I'm driving, I'm eating! Because I'm lactose intolerant it is tricky finding non-dairy food on the road. Fortunately most food labels in the States highlight certain ingredients like milk, wheat and eggs - foods that some people have a hard time stomaching.
When I was at the Walmart Super Center the other night (at 3AM) I decided to look for a "snack" without milk in it. I found some Walmart Brand Oatmeal Raisin Cookies that boasted "no sugar added" so I looked at the ingredients label to find out what was in them. No dairy, and "Sorbitol" and "Maltitol" instead of sugar. I have seen "Sorbitol" on labels before, in fact, I try to find chewing gum with this sweetener in it because I don't like eating "Aspartame" - (heard it was bad for you).
The label also had a disclaimer that said, "Maltitol and Sorbitol are Polyhydric Alcohols that metabolize slower than sugar. Excess consumption can cause stomach discomfort." Ahhh, how bad could it be? I chew gum with Sorbitol in it all the time? YIKES! Stomach discomfort is putting it mildly! I ate two cookies (while I was driving) and the rumblings began about an hour later. The "stomach discomfort" latest for HOURS and then... explosions took place! Ba-boom!
I decided to do some research when I got to my hotel. I found out that "studies over the past fifteen years have proven that Sorbitol can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, ranging from mild discomfort to severe diarrhea!" This from a consumer group that is attempting to get the Food and Drug Administration (in the U.S.) to require a "diarrhea" notice on foods that contain sorbitol - [http://www.cspinet.org/new/sorbitol_pr.html]!
Needless to say I trashed the rest of the yummy Walmart cookies. And would suggest that all of my friends - in fact, everyone in the world - stay away from food containing Sorbital! (Especially if you happen to be driving a truck across the United States.)
:-)
Well... I better go... time to eat!
When I was at the Walmart Super Center the other night (at 3AM) I decided to look for a "snack" without milk in it. I found some Walmart Brand Oatmeal Raisin Cookies that boasted "no sugar added" so I looked at the ingredients label to find out what was in them. No dairy, and "Sorbitol" and "Maltitol" instead of sugar. I have seen "Sorbitol" on labels before, in fact, I try to find chewing gum with this sweetener in it because I don't like eating "Aspartame" - (heard it was bad for you).
The label also had a disclaimer that said, "Maltitol and Sorbitol are Polyhydric Alcohols that metabolize slower than sugar. Excess consumption can cause stomach discomfort." Ahhh, how bad could it be? I chew gum with Sorbitol in it all the time? YIKES! Stomach discomfort is putting it mildly! I ate two cookies (while I was driving) and the rumblings began about an hour later. The "stomach discomfort" latest for HOURS and then... explosions took place! Ba-boom!
I decided to do some research when I got to my hotel. I found out that "studies over the past fifteen years have proven that Sorbitol can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, ranging from mild discomfort to severe diarrhea!" This from a consumer group that is attempting to get the Food and Drug Administration (in the U.S.) to require a "diarrhea" notice on foods that contain sorbitol - [http://www.cspinet.org/new/sorbitol_pr.html]!
Needless to say I trashed the rest of the yummy Walmart cookies. And would suggest that all of my friends - in fact, everyone in the world - stay away from food containing Sorbital! (Especially if you happen to be driving a truck across the United States.)
:-)
Well... I better go... time to eat!
This entry was posted
on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 7:48 AM.
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10:41 AMThat'll teach ya...better stick with the two-bite brownies :-)
8:55 PM
mmmm....brownies....
Sounds like you're having psudo-fun Paul! But explosions while driving truck? ew...Not fun. Hope there was a truck-stop nearby! hahaha
8:08 PM
Hi Paul,
Didn't know you were gone. What is a blog?
Anyway, more about artificial sweeteners that will make you glad you threw those cookies out. Long-term feeding studies was shown to cause tumors and organ injury in animals.
Best to stick with sugar.
Hope your trip is productive and see you back at Freedom House.
Liz
11:27 PM
"Aspartame" - (heard it was bad for you). -- I'd say.. "It kills th Boys!" -- If ya know what I mean.
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