Help! My slimmer body is hidden by bloat! I’m thrilled that I lost eight pounds. And to make sure the weight stays off, I switched to sugar-free desserts. But ever since, I’ve been so bloated that you can’t even tell I’ve lost anything. Plus, I’ve been getting nasty stomach cramps. What could be causing this?
Those sugar-free desserts might be to blame. Such treats are typically sweetened with sorbitol or maltitol. But 60 percent of women have difficulty digesting these sugar alcohols, which can lead to cramping and bloating. The fix: Opt for treats with natural ingredients like inulin, a zero-calorie sweetener made from chicory root. And when making desserts from scratch, try replacing every 2 tsp. of sugar with 1/2 tsp. of stevia (like SweetLeaf Stevia Plus, $12 for 100 packets, at health-food stores). This calorie-free herbal sweetener won’t cause unwelcome side effects.
