So I just got a big bag of Xylitol. Used about 1 T of it in a smoothie, and got the surprise of my life - 2 days of severe gastrointestinal upset, to the point where I passed out from the cramps. Just thought I’d put this out there in case someone else had the same reaction.
Now I am loathe to try any other sugar alcohol. Anyone know if erythritol has the same effect? I know I can tolerate stevia, but in some recipes it just leaves too much of a bitter taste.
Still recovering.
Sorry about your reaction. I have never used it. I have used Erythritol with no issues
Avoid xylitol if you have dogs…its toxic to them.
Xylitol upsets me too- even in small amounts. I had a mouth spray for a dry mouth & that gave me terrible pain, so I can sympathise with you! I’m UK, don’t know if you can get it, but I’ve been trying Truvia, which has Stevia & Erythritol, I’ve been fine with that, but as my sweet tooth is going with keto (yay!!), I’ve used way less than recipes say.
Big hug to you, hope you feel better soon! 
Any sugar alcohol bothers my stomach. I’d rather just wait for a refeed and eat real sugar.
I had trouble with xylitol, but since I’d never had trouble with any other sugar alcohol that I know of, got a package of erythritol to try. Erythritol is my go-to sweetener now. No issues with GI upset, and an experiment with drinking a few teaspoons of it in water and measuring my blood sugar showed no changes at all through a couple of hours.
For me, erythritol is just about ideal.
As a sidebar if you use Erythritol you may want to grind it up in a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle.
It does not dissolve well in crystal form and can make things gritty.
There’s a place called Vitacost that we shop at (online). They have their own label erythritol which has rather finer crystals than the Now Foods has, the only other brand I’ve tried. Swerve, which is erythritol and oligosaccharides, has a confectioner’s sugar blend. Very fine powder that’s a great substitute.
The only thing I’ve had issues with erythritol dissolving in was some fat bombs - dark chocolate, butter and almond butter. Nothing water based to dissolve the erythritol!
I’ve never had a problem with xylitol. Of course, I’ve never eaten a tablespoon at a time. Any sugar alcohol should be eaten sparingly when first trying it. Your gut needs to become accustomed to it. True, some people will never acclimate to it, but don’t try it out in quantity.
This may be, but I’m not taking any chances anymore. Erythritol seems to work for me much better.
Thanks for your response.
Cheers,
Jo