The ketogenic diet promotes weight loss by encouraging the body to burn fat rather than carbohydrates, as carbohydrate intake is kept to a minimum. For this reason, people following this diet reduce sugar intake to a minimum.
Maltitol, as we have discussed in a previous post, is a sweetener from the polyol family and although it contains less sugar, it is considered a carbohydrate. When it comes to maltitol, it only provides half the calories of other sweeteners.
Maltitol in the keto diet
Maltitol is absorbed by the body in a completely different way than other carbohydrates. They are mostly digested when they reach the end of the small intestine, but maltitol together with other sugar alcohols is partially digested in the small intestine before it reaches the colon. It should also be noted that the glycaemic index of maltitol is 35, well below that of the table sugar we are all familiar with (which has a glycaemic index of 65). These two factors make maltitol an alternative to sugar in the ketogenic diet. It is the best option compared to other sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar and others.
How much maltitol should I take on the keto diet?
It should be noted that maltitol is increasingly present in baked goods, as well as in desserts, so special attention should be paid when shopping. It is ideal to add maltitol to your dishes rather than buying products where it is already added. If these already contain carbohydrates the ketosis process can be disrupted.
Therefore, if you choose to use maltitol in your diet we recommend adding it to foods and dishes and above all always use it sparingly.
