What the hell are you smoking when you drink mint?

You might be tempted to pop in a mint or two when you want your mouth to feel (and smell!) fresh. What could be more tempting than Ice Breakers Coolmint, sugar-free mint? These mints are widely sold in travel-sized ice cubes at a reasonable price (you can easily buy a three-pack online) Amazon), and – let’s be honest – they look funky with those sparkly “cooling crystals” (blue flecks) on them.

Made by famous people Hershey Company Ice Breakers Coolmint sugar-free mints are one of the candy giant’s product brands, and they seem like the perfect, healthy way to treat yourself. After all, each mint contains only five calories and no carbs or fat. However, some of the ingredients in this popular breath freshener may give you pause.

To help break down the potentially problematic ingredients in Ice Breakers Coolmint sugar-free mints, Health Digest reached out Jordan Hillis a registered dietitian nutritionist on the west coast of top nutritional coaches. With Hill’s invaluable help, our team was able to identify four ingredients that make Ice Breakers Coolmint Sugar-Free Mints not right for you, based on your lifestyle habits, dietary needs and preferences, and food sensitivities.

If you look closely at the Ice Breakers Coolmint Sugar Free Mints package, you’ll see sorbitol and maltitol on the label. In fact, they’re at the top of the ingredient list. These are sugar alcohols and may cause unpleasant effects in some consumers. As Jordan Hill explains, sorbitol and maltitol are "generally safe to eat." Still, she warns, "high intakes may lead to intestinal disturbances, diarrhea, or an imbalance in the gut microbiome."

The problem with sugar alcohols is that they are not fully digested in the stomach. Instead, they are eventually broken down in the large intestine. Along the way, they can produce unpleasant side effects, such as general stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, and, as Hill mentioned, diarrhea.

Fortunately, this adverse effect is short-term and usually associated with consuming large amounts of sugar alcohols (and individual mints are fairly small). That said, if you have an existing condition like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or you’ve had issues with sugar alcohols in the past, you may be sensitive enough to sugar alcohols to forego sugar alcohol-based mints.

Ice Breakers Coolmint Sugar-Free Mints rely on more than just sugar alcohols to give them their sweet, smooth flavor. They also contain aspartame, which Jordan Hill admits may or may not be something to be wary of.

"Aspartame is a sugar substitute that is generally considered safe for consumption by the FDA," she said. “However, research results are mixed, with some suggesting that aspartame may negatively impact a variety of outcomes, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, autism and neurodegenerative diseases.”

Hill also cited the 2022 study "Consumption of aspartame is associated with higher oxidative stress and increased risk of infertility," she noted in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Still, Hill suggests a need for more research into aspartame and its possible health benefits. Influence more research. Therefore, you may want to pay close attention to emerging research as you decide whether to eat foods containing aspartame.

Those fun, colorful specks in Ice Breakers Coolmint Sugar Free Mints add to the overall visual appeal of the product. However, the factors that give them their bright, eye-catching hue may not be all that appealing. Where does that blue glare come from? It is an artificial color called Blue 1. While Blue 1 may sound fairly benign, it has caused surprising controversy over the years despite its widespread use by food manufacturers.

“Blue 1 is another ingredient generally considered safe when consumed at recommended doses, but has found conflicting results in studies,” explains Jordan Hill. “A review of research conducted in 2021 noted potential negative health effects of Blue 1 as it relates to its potential effects on cell damage, DNA damage, and skin irritation.”

2021 review Hill mentioned in Advances in Nutrition that synthetic dyes called Blue 1 and Blue 2 were studied. After reviewing reports that the dyes may be linked to adverse health effects in consumers, the reviewers concluded that due to their potential toxicity, these two food dyes are best replaced with natural alternatives. They add that these natural alternatives may actually offer health benefits that Blue 1 and Blue 2 don’t appear to have, including anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic agents.

Soy is the last problematic ingredient in Ice Breakers Coolmint sugar-free mints. However, it’s well hidden and you might miss it. Honestly, it’s not until you see the allergen list that you see the note “contains soy.” It’s most likely derived from lecithin, which is listed on the label and is often made from soybeans. Medical News Today.

This does not mean you will react to the soy in Ice Breakers Coolmint Sugar Free Mints, even if you are generally sensitive to soy. as Johns Hopkins University Medicine Explain that the reaction to soy lecithin is unusual. That said, they happen sometimes and are different for everyone.

Therefore, if you have had an allergic reaction to very small amounts of soy (or lecithin made from soy) in the past, you may want to be careful when consuming Ice Breakers Coolmint Sugar Free Mints. Or, you might just be looking for a soy-free or lecithin-free mint that gives your breath that fresh-washed taste and smell.

Of course, you can still enjoy Ice Breakers Coolmint Sugar-Free Mints if you want, especially if you’re not concerned about any of the product’s core ingredients. After all, all ingredients are technically considered safe. Plus, they’re generally less likely to cause serious disruption to your system (at least when these ingredients are consumed in small amounts – which means you shouldn’t eat the entire mint in one sitting). But if you’re looking for a more natural alternative to your beloved icebreaker, rest assured you can find plenty.

For example, Polyurethane Vegan mints for sale, free of soy, artificial flavors and aspartame. But please note that PUR mints are made with xylitol. Although xylitol is a sugar alcohol like sorbitol and maltitol, it tends to be better tolerated. (If you have a puppy at home, please be careful: Online MD Warnings say xylitol is very harmful to dogs. ) If you can eat real sugar, another alternative to mint fresh products is simple mints. This vegan, kosher swap contains just three ingredients (sucrose, peppermint oil, and calcium stearate) and might be a refreshing alternative.