The lower a sweetener is on the glycemic index, the less it raises blood glucose levels. Raised glucose levels are dangerous for diabetics and lead to weight gain for dieters. A glycemic value of zero represents a sweetener that has “no effect” on blood sugar levels. All values are averages, but serve to rank order the various sweeteners. Glucose - 100 Maltose - 100 Corn syrup - 85-92 Sucrose (Table sugar) - 65 (4 calories/gram) Honey - 50 Maltitol syrup, 48-53 Lactose (Milk sugar) - 46 Polyglycitol / hydrogenated starch hydrolysate - 39 Maltitol syrup, high-polymer - 36 Maltitol - 36 (used in most "low carb" sweets; 2.7 calories/gm) Fructose (Fruit sugar) - 23 Xylitol - 13 Isomalt - 9 Sorbitol - 9 Lactitol - 6 Mannitol - 0 Erythritol - 0 (0.2 calories/gram) (used by Maine Cottage Foods) |