It comes down to your tongue and your gut.
Many protein bars use sugar alcohols like maltitol, erythritol, xylitol, or sorbitol to cut sugar content and calories. The tradeoff: often an unpleasant cooling sensation in the mouth and potential GI side effects, especially at higher intakes. One popular bar with maltitol even warns that "excessive consumption may have laxative effect." Gross.
Most sugar alcohols are poorly absorbed. The unabsorbed portion draws water into the intestines and may be fermented by gut bacteria. The result can be bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Endurance athletes are already prone to GI distress during exercise and may be especially at risk. People with IBS may also experience symptoms, even at lower intakes.
We think this sounds awful. So Main Event is sweetened primarily with allulose — a naturally occurring sugar found in very small amounts in foods like raisins, figs, and kiwis. Allulose contributes minimal calories and doesn’t spike blood sugar, while delivering a taste that’s much closer to sugar. Since it's absorbed better than most sugar alcohols, it's also less likely to cause GI symptoms at typical serving sizes.