Last Updated on October 12, 2021 by Anne-Marie
A review of Werther's Original Sugar-Free candies.
Why you should try Werther's Original Sugar Free Candies
Dealing with a sweet tooth is hard when you're trying to eat healthy or lose weight. However, if you’re diabetic, it’s a matter of life and death when it comes to managing your intake of candy and other sweet treats.
That’s why I tried out Werther's Original Sugar Free candies and share my experience with my diabetic and sugar free readers.
Werther’s Originals Sugar Free caramels are made with the sugar alternative Isomalt and the sweetener Acesulfame-K.
If you’re concerned about artificial sweeteners, Acesulfame-K is considered safe by both the US FDA and the equivalent agency in the EU.
These sugar free candies have zero sugar carbs (3g of total carbs) and only 8 calories per candy, 40% less than Werther’s Original caramels.
According to Werther’s Originals Sugar Free Satisfaction Survey of 1,000 adults with diabetes, 66% of them found it hard to change their diet and avoid sugary treats.
In fact, 39% of the survey respondents said that their enjoyment of eating sweets had taken a hit since they began watching their sugar intake.
That’s why I hoped Werther's Original Sugar Free candies were going to be as good as their original candies!
Does Werther’s Originals Sugar Free pass the taste test?
To give these sugar free Werther’s candies a test drive, I tried samples of all their sugar free flavors – Caramel Apple, Caramel Coffee, Caramel Cinnamon, and Classic.
I wanted to see if they tasted as good as the regular Werther’s Originals. I’ve tried sugar free candies, mints, and cough drops before, and often they’re pretty awful.
It’s not fun being sugar free, so I was keeping my fingers crossed that Werther’s had it figured out.
My family and I tried out all the varieties of Werther’s Originals Sugar Free, and frankly we can’t tell the difference between regular Werther’s Originals and the sugar free ones. Score! (My favorite was the Caramel Coffee.)
One thing I did notice is that I was able to stop eating Werther’s Originals Sugar Free caramels after just a couple of candies. I cannot do that with regular Werther’s candies.
That’s a really, really good thing especially since Isomalt can cause tummy distress like gas and diarrhea when eaten in large quantities. (That’s because the body treats it like fiber.)
FAQs
Sugar alcohols are digested very slowly in the intestine and are not fully absorbed into the blood. Therefore, they do not raise blood sugar the same way other carbohydrates do. Due to the slow digestion, they are fermented by the bacteria in the intestine and as a result can cause abdominal gas, bloating and diarrhea.
Is Werther's original sugar free bad for you? ›
Be careful of overconsuming Sugar Free Werther's, as studies have found that people who consume more than 20 g of isomalt in a day are more likely to experience gastrointestinal distress, such as flatulence and diarrhea. A small number of people have found that isomalt can interfere with their ketosis.
How much sugar-free candy can a diabetic eat? ›
In addition, some sugar-free candy contains significant calories and is high in saturated or trans fats. Pay attention to serving sizes, strictly avoid trans fats and limit saturated fat to 6 percent (fewer than 13 grams) of total calories per day. For a 2,000 calorie per day diet, this would be about 13 grams.
Can diabetics have sugar free Werther's original? ›
They shouldn't raise your blood sugar if that's what you're asking. However, I'd strongly advise limiting yourself to 1 or 2 of these. I bought a bag shortly after I was diagnosed thinking I could eat as many as I wanted.... eating about 10 of them at once did not go so well for me.
Does sugar-free candy mess up your stomach? ›
Cons of Sugar-Free Candy
Digestive side effects: For some people, especially those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), sugar alcohols can cause unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects such as bloating and diarrhea. 4 Avoid large amounts, especially if you're sensitive to them. 5.
What happens if you eat too much sugar-free stuff? ›
Though research is limited, eating too much of these types of chemically treated sugars has been linked to adverse side effects including stomach upset, blood sugar control issues and increased risk of some types of cancer.
How much is too much sugar-free candy? ›
Sugar-free candy is so delicious that it's tempting to eat piece after piece. However, consuming large quantities of sugar alcohols exacerbates stomach upset due your body's inability to properly absorb it. For example, sorbitol likely causes stomach pain and diarrhea with a 20-gram intake rather than a 10-gram amount.
Can sugar-free candy raise blood pressure? ›
Some experts postulate that artificial sweeteners may trigger inflammation and alter normal metabolism, the gut microbiome, and blood vessels in ways that promote type 2 diabetes, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure.
What happens if a diabetic eats too much candy? ›
After consuming an excess amount of sugar, you might enter a state of high blood glucose called hyperglycemia, per the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Hyper means high or above, and glycemia refers to the amount of glucose (or sugar) in the blood.
Are sugar free Werther's laxative? ›
Sugar free creamy toffees with sweeteners
Ingredients: sweeteners (maltitol, isomalt, sorbitol syrup, sucralose), palm fat, butter (milk)(4.4%), cream (milk)(3.9%), flavourings, salt, emulsifier: soya lecithin, colour: ammonia caramel. Excessive consumption may produce laxative effects.
Diabetes Candy Exchanges
| M&Ms, plain or peanut | 1 fun size bag |
|---|
| Mars, Milky Way, or Three Musketeers | 1 fun size |
| Hershey Kisses or Hugs | 5 pieces |
| Gummy bears | 8 pieces |
| Hershey mini chocolate bars (with almonds, Krackle, or dark chocolate) | 3 |
12 more rowsNutritional information
| Typical nutritional values | Per 100 g | Per piece (3.2 g) |
|---|
| Energy | 1203 kJ / 290 kcal | 38 kJ / 9 kcal |
| Fat | 8.8 g | 0.3 g |
| of which saturates | 5.7 g | 0.2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 87.0 g | 2.8 g |
3 more rows“Replacing free sugars with non-sugar sweeteners does not help people control their weight long-term,” said Francesco Branca, director of WHO's department of nutrition and food safety. “We did see a mild reduction of body weight in the short term, but it's not going to be sustained.”
Do sugar-free sweets act as a laxative? ›
People with PKU should check food labels for this warning. Some sweeteners known as polyols (such as sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol) can have a laxative effect if consumed in large amounts. Some foods contain polyols naturally, such as certain fruits and vegetables.
What happens to your body when you go sugar-free? ›
Cutting out added sugars can help minimize existing inflammation, as well as prevent new inflammation. This improves overall immune function, so the body can effectively fight off pathogens, reducing your susceptibility to illness.
