Sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers are a popular hard candy that many people enjoy as a sweet treat without the added sugar. But how many carbs are actually in these sugar free candies? Let’s take a closer look at the nutrition facts, ingredients, and carb content of sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers.
Nutrition Facts for Sugar Free Wintergreen LifeSavers
Here are the nutrition facts for 1 roll of sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers (5 pieces):
| Nutrition Facts | 1 Roll (5 pieces) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 5 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 2 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
As you can see, a single roll or serving (5 pieces) of sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers contains 2 grams of total carbohydrates. It does not contain any sugar.
Ingredients in Sugar Free Wintergreen LifeSavers
Here are the ingredients listed on a package of sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers:
- Isomalt
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Aspartame
- Acesulfame potassium
- Vegetable oil
- BHT added to preserve freshness
The main sweetener used in sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers is isomalt. This is a sugar alcohol that provides sweetness without spiking blood sugar. The candies also contain aspartame and acesulfame potassium which are artificial sweeteners. There is no actual sugar listed in the ingredients.
Total Carbohydrates from Isomalt
The 2 grams of carbohydrates in sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers comes entirely from the isomalt.
Isomalt is a sugar alcohol that is often used to provide sweetness while reducing calories and carbohydrates compared to regular sugar. However, sugar alcohols still contribute carbohydrates, even though they don’t spike blood sugar levels as much as regular sugar.
According to nutrition facts labels and ingredient listings, a single Wintergreen LifeSavers roll contains 1 gram of isomalt. Each gram of isomalt contains 2 grams of carbohydrates. So that means each roll contains approximately 2 grams of carbohydrate coming just from the isomalt sweetener alone.
Net Carbs in Sugar Free Wintergreen LifeSavers
Net carbs refer to the number of digestible carbohydrates that impact blood sugar levels. To find net carbs, you subtract the amount of fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrate amount.
Since sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers contain 2 grams total carbs entirely from isomalt sugar alcohol, the net carbs would be:
Net Carbs = Total Carbs – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols
= 2g – 0g – 2g
= 0g Net Carbs
Therefore, the net carb content in a roll of sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers is 0 grams.
Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load of Isomalt
The glycemic index (GI) measures how much a food spikes your blood sugar on a scale of 1-100 compared to pure glucose. Meanwhile glycemic load accounts for portion sizes.
Isomalt has a very low glycemic index of 2. This means it has a negligible effect on blood sugar levels. Isomalt also has an extremely low glycemic load.
This makes isomalt an ideal sweetener for sugar free candies when targeting blood sugar control and reduction in carbs.
Why Sugar Free Wintergreen LifeSavers Contain Some Carbs
Even though sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers don’t contain any sugar, they still have 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving. This comes entirely from the isomalt sugar alcohol that is used to provide sweetness instead of sugar.
Many people think that because something is labeled as “sugar free” it must be completely carb free. However, this is not always the case. Sugar free items can still contain carbohydrates from other ingredients.
In the case of sugar free candies, they need some source of sweetener as a replacement for sugar. Often, this comes from sugar alcohols like isomalt, xylitol, erythritol, or others. While sugar alcohols don’t raise blood sugar as much as regular sugar, they do still contribute some carbohydrates and calories.
The FDA allows foods containing less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving to be labeled as “sugar free.” Wintergreen LifeSavers meet these criteria with 0 grams of sugar per roll. But the presence of isomalt puts the total carb count at 2 grams per roll.
So in summary, sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers provide the sweet flavor people crave from candy, while reducing sugar and carbohydrates. There are still some carbs present due to the use of isomalt as a sugar free sweetener, but the net carb count is negligible.
How Many Carbs in a Whole Bag or Box of Sugar Free Wintergreen LifeSavers?
Now that we know a single roll of sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers contains about 2 grams net carbs, we can estimate the total carb count for a full bag or box.
Here are the total carb counts for popular package sizes of sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers:
| Package Size | Total Rolls | Grams of Carbs |
|---|---|---|
| Fun Size Pouches (6 rolls each) | 30 pouches (180 rolls total) | 360 grams |
| Movie Theater Box (18 rolls) | 1 box | 36 grams |
| Value Size Bag (50 rolls) | 1 bag | 100 grams |
As you can see, the total carb count scales up depending on how large of a package you consume. The standard single roll has 2 net grams. A fun size pouch with 6 rolls has 12 grams. And a jumbo value size bag with 50 rolls would contain 100 net grams of carbohydrates.
Tips for Reducing Carbs in Sugar Free Candies
Here are some tips if you are looking to reduce carbs when eating sugar free candies like Wintergreen LifeSavers:
- Stick to small portion sizes – Consuming just 1-2 rolls at a time prevents carb overloading.
- Drink plenty of water – Helps metabolize sugar alcohols and control appetite.
- Combine with protein – Pairing candy with nuts, cheese, or other protein blunts blood sugar spike.
- Watch other carb sources – Be mindful of total daily carbs from other foods and beverages.
- Consider glycemic impact – Some sugar alcohols like erythritol have less impact than others like maltitol.
- Seek 100% sugar free – Some “sugar free” candies still contain sugar, so read nutrition labels closely.
With smart portioning and pairing with protein or fiber, sugar free candies like Wintergreen LifeSavers can be enjoyed as part of an otherwise low carb eating plan.
Nutrition Recommendations for People with Diabetes
People living with diabetes need to carefully monitor their carbohydrate intake to control blood sugar levels. Here are some nutrition recommendations specifically for diabetics when considering consumption of sugar free sweets:
- Avoid large quantities – Stick to 1-2 rolls max at a time to prevent spiking.
- Pair with protein or fat – This helps slow digestion and absorption of carbs.
- Discuss with your doctor – Assess suitability within your individual meal plan.
- Test blood sugar levels – Monitor impact on your glucose response.
- Moderation is key – Sugar free candies should supplement, not replace, healthy carb foods.
- Evaluate ingredients – Some sugar alcohols like maltitol have higher glycemic impact.
With careful attention to portion size and ingredients, an occasional sugar free sweet treat can be incorporated into an otherwise diabetes-friendly diet focused on whole, nutrient-dense carbohydrate sources.
Comparison to Regular Wintergreen LifeSavers
To understand the carb difference, it’s helpful to compare sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers to the regular, sugar-sweetened LifeSavers.
Here’s how the sugar free version stacks up against regular Wintergreen LifeSavers:
| Nutrition Facts | Sugar Free (1 roll) | Regular (1 roll) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 5 | 20 |
| Total Carbs | 2g | 5g |
| Sugar | 0g | 4g |
As you can see, sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers contain significantly fewer carbs and no sugar compared to the regular Wintergreen version. For people monitoring carb intake or blood sugar levels, this makes sugar free LifeSavers a better choice.
Can You Have Allergic Reaction to Sugar Free Wintergreen LifeSavers?
Some people may wonder if they can have an allergic reaction to sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers or other sugar free mints and candies. The ingredients most likely to potentially cause allergy or sensitivity issues include:
- Aspartame – Artificial sweetener that some people report sensitivities to.
- Acesulfame potassium – Also a synthetic artificial sweetener.
- Isomalt – While rare, possibility of allergy/intolerance to this sugar alcohol exists.
- Flavors – Certain natural and artificial flavorings provoke reactions in sensitive individuals.
- Vegetable oil – Highly refined so likelihood of allergy is low but possible.
- BHT preservative – Some evidence shows BHT might induce hypersensitivity.
Any food has the potential to cause adverse reactions in people with food allergies or sensitivities. Those with known food allergies should check the ingredients label carefully before consuming sugar free Wintergreen Lifesavers.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction could include:
- Hives, itching or swelling of lips, tongue, throat
- Tingling or irritation in mouth
- Wheezing, difficulty breathing
- Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
- Dizziness, headache
Seek medical care immediately if you experience a severe reaction after eating sugar free mints or candy.
Xylitol Alternative to Sugar Free Wintergreen Lifesavers
Some people prefer to avoid sugar alcohols like isomalt and instead look for candies sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that has minimal effect on blood sugar.
There are some sugar free mints and candies on the market that use 100% xylitol as a sweetener instead of isomalt, including options from Xlear and SmartSweets. These products would have similar nutrition profiles with no sugar and minimal net carbs.
Xylitol does not have an aftertaste like some other sugar alcohols. It works well in mints and gum. The biggest downside is that xylitol is toxic to dogs so must be kept safely away from pets.
For people who want to minimize sugar alcohols for gut health or glycemic reasons, products sweetened purely with xylitol can be a good alternative to isomalt-containing items like sugar free Wintergreen Lifesavers.
Conversion Calculator
Use this simple calculator to convert the carb count into grams for any number of sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers rolls:
Number of Rolls:
The Takeaway
While sugar free Wintergreen LifeSavers are advertised as having 0g sugar, they still contain some carbohydrates, primarily from isomalt sugar alcohol. Each roll has 2g net carbs and a 50-count bag would contain 100g total carbs. For people counting carbs or managing blood sugar, portion control and pairing with protein is recommended. Sugar free LifeSavers can be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.
