Transcript of a JJ Virgin episode of the 'Ask the Health Expert' podcast (promotional/educational). JJ Virgin discusses environmental toxins in laundry detergents and several sponsored products, then answers a listener question about sugar alcohols—explaining they are polyols, have reduced intestinal absorption compared with sugars, and highlighting erythritol and xylitol (with caveats). She also names other low blood‑sugar‑impact sweeteners (allulose, stevia, monk fruit) and offers culinary tips (cinnamon, vanilla).
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Hey, it's J.J. here. You know, I've been talking about environmental toxins forever, and laundry detergent is a sneaky one. A lot of them contain harsh chemicals like dyes, preservatives, and even UV brighteners. Those brighteners don't actually clean anything. They just coat fabric so your eyes think things look whiter or brighter. That's more chemicals I don't want on my family's sheets or skin. And if you've got sensitive skin or allergies around the house, this can be a big problem. That's what got my attention about Earth Breeze. It looks like a dryer sheet, but it's actually laundry detergent. You toss one in the washer and that's it. No pouring, no mess, and no heavy plastic jug. Their packaging is lightweight cardboard, which helps reduce plastic waste. And if you choose the fragrance free option, it's gentle, hypoallergenic, non irritating, and non sensitizing. I really like how simple it is and how fresh and clean everything comes out without those unnecessary chemicals. Right now you can try Earth Breeze for up to 40% off with free gifts@earthbreeze.com virgin that's earthbreeze.com virgin for up to 40% off plus free gifts on your first order. Hey, JJ here. Can you believe how fast the holidays are knocking at the door this year? One minute it's pumpkin spice season, the next you're getting your guest room ready and wondering where their wrapping paper went. And that's when I turned to Wayfair. From bedding and towels to holiday decor and last minute stocking stuffers, Wayfair has everything you need to get your home and holidays together fast. And for way less. With Wayfair, I know I can refresh my guest room in no time. Maybe I'll add a soft new comforter or a few holiday throw pillows. With Wayfair, it's so easy and everything arrives super fast. Plus, there's free shipping for any order over $35 easy and total peace of mind. So whether you're hosting, gifting, or just adding those final festive touches, Wayfair has your back. And when the holidays wind down, Wayfair has everything you need to tuck it all neatly away. Smart storage solutions for every room from the kitchen to the closet. Get organized, refreshed and ready for the holidays. For way less, head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style, every home that's W a Y f a I r.com saving on.
Your education should be a right, not a competition. At University of Phoenix, you'll get the best scholarship or savings you qualify for. Simple as that. Explore Scholarship options at University of Phoenix what exactly are sugar alcohols and why are they being used? This is JJ Virgin, four time New York Times best selling author, celebrity nutrition expert and Fitness hall of Famer. I've been on a lifelong quest for answers to the toughest health questions and now I'm sharing what I found with you. Welcome to Ask the Health Expert Presta Graeber from Facebook asks, what exactly are sugar alcohols and why are they being used? Ah, sugar alcohol is such a misnomer. I'll be right back to answer that question.
Hey JJ Virgin here. Okay, real talk. So often the holidays sneak up on me. Travel, gifts, hosting, you know, all the things and suddenly it's like, wait, who spent what and where? And I know I'm not the only one who's looked at a bill in January and thought, wow, that escalated quickly. If you want to keep your finances under control this holiday season, you need to be using Monarch. It's rated the Wall Street Journal's best budgeting app of 2025. Monarch is the all in one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean on your laptop or on your phone. Monarch lets you link everything and gives you real time visibility so you're not shocked later. Right now I've been checking the holiday spending category so I don't accidentally start the new year with that dreaded debt hangover. And honestly, just seeing everything laid out is already helping me stay more aware. This season. Monarch does the heavy lifting. It links your accounts in minutes, gives you smart categorization and super clear visuals. Yes, that end of year reset could be a real goal. This time. Don't let financial opportunities slip through the cracks. Use the code virgin@monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off your first year. @monarch.com with the code Virgin, the holidays.
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Sugar Alcohols have the wrong name. They are not a sugar, they are not an alcohol. What the heck. I don't have any clue why they were called that. They're actually a polyol. It's a type of compound with carbons. But before we get to biochemistry over here. What? Here's what's important. They are one of my sugar impact diet approved sweeteners. Well, a couple of them are because your body doesn't absorb as much of them. So what makes sugar alcohols different is your intestinal tract can't absorb as much of them as they do other sugars. So they don't really have as big of an impact on your blood sugar or insulin and you don't have as many, you don't absorb as many calories from them. There are a couple of them specifically that I put into the safe low sugar impact category and those are erythritol and xylitol. But with a caveat. You may be one of those people like me that does not handle xylitol well. And you wonder what does that mean? That means that you will have gas that could clear the room. So if you are one of those people and you will know it when you use them, you probably won't want to. Gives you stomach cramps, the whole bit. A lot of the different sugar alcohols can do that. They can give you loose stools, they act like a laxative, they give you gas and bloating, not so great. But the one that tends to not do that is erythritol. So I will use erythritol. The other sweeteners that I like to use that, that either don't raise blood sugar or insulin, don't have any harmful effects. These are natural by the way, not artificial. I'm not a fan of any artificial sweeteners, but some of the other ones that can fall in the low sugar impact category, if you're looking for sweeteners, are allulose, stevia and monk fruit or lohango or lakunto I think it's called are all some of the other sweeteners that are also okay to use. And I'll tell you what else I love that I think is totally under underused is cinnamon because it's naturally sweet and balances blood sugar and vanilla, same thing, naturally sweet and can boost serotonin. This is JJ with Ask the Health Expert. I do this five times a week, so make sure you never miss a show by going to subscribetojay.com.
Hello listeners, this is Anne Bogle author, blogger, and creator of the podcast what Should I Read next? Since 2016, I've been helping readers bring more joy and delight into their reading lives. Every week, I tag all things Books and Reading with a guest and guide them in discovering their next read. They share three books they love, one book they don't, and what they've been reading lately, and I recommend three titles they may enjoy reading next. Guests have said our conversations are like therapy, troubleshooting issues that have plagued their reading lives for years and possibly the rest of their lives as well. And of course, recommending books that meet the moment. Whether they are looking for deep introspection to spur or encourage a life change or a frothy page turner to help them escape the stresses of work, school, everything, you'll learn something about yourself as a reader and you'll definitely walk away confident to choose your next read, with a whole list of new books and authors to try. So join us each Tuesday for what Should I Read Next? Subscribe now wherever you're listening to this podcast and Visit our website whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com to find out more.
