Xylitol Sweetener

             Have you ever stopped to consider how much sugar you consume? If you look at the labels of the foods, drinks and snacks you eat every day, most things you eat contain some form of sugar. Are you aware that the average adult consumes over 180 pounds of sugar each year? That's over 13,000 pounds of sugar during an average lifetime. Many of us will end up eating even more than that.

You can turn on any news channel and hear reports on how our bodies pay the price for this level of consumption. Health experts agree that overuse of sugar is at least partly responsible for many diseases and conditions such as obesity, tooth decay, ADHD, hyperactivity and Type II diabetes.

Many people have decided to use artificial sweeteners instead, but these man-made chemicals seem to cause more health problems than they prevent.  And in my experience, most artificial sweeteners taste...well… artificial.

Lets look at some hidden sugars in foods you may consume:

• 2 graham crackers 1 tsp.
• 1 piece bubble gum 2 tsp.
• 1 slice white bread 3 tsp.
• 1/2 cup gelatin 4 tsp.
• 2.1 oz. Milky Way bar 9 tsp.
• 1 cup low-fat fruit yogurt 11 tsp.
• 12 oz orange soda 12 tsp.

One teaspoon equals 5 grams of sugar

 I’ve been looking for sugar alternatives for many years. And I’m happy to say I’ve finally found one that not only agrees with my body but is good for it too! This new sweetener is called Xylitol.

Xylitol is a sweetener that is made from natural ingredients and tastes like sugar yet is low-calorie and does not cause cavities.  This will really help you greatly reduce your sugar intake and may just make life a little sweeter.

What is Xylitol? Xylitol was first extracted from the birch tree over 100 years ago but was not manufactured commercially until the sugar shortages of WWII. When people began to replace their regular sugar with xylitol, they soon noticed fewer cavities. This is when scientists began studying xylitol’s health benefits.

A bit of Science : The remarkable properties of xylitol stem from its unique molecular structure. Xylitol is a five-carbon or “pentitol” sugar where most sugar-like molecules have a six-carbon “hexose”unit. Because of its distinctive arrangement of atoms, bacteria cannot utilize it for energy. This chemical structure inhibits the ability of our bodies to fully metabolize it as well. For this reason, xylitol has a very limited effect on blood sugar levels, making it the perfect sweetener for those concerned with blood sugar balance. Its low glycemic index of 7 makes it a terrific solution for carb-counters as well as those trying to loose weight.

Xylitol has other health benefits as well. Over 20 years of research has confirmed that xylitol inhibits the ablility of bacteria to adhear to the tissue in the mouth, nose, throat and respiratory tract. Because bacteria cannot ferment pentose sugars, xylitol makes the mouth inhospitable for these harmful organisms and therefore beneficial for oral health. It has also been found to refresh and moisturize a dry mouth and throat, reduce bad breath and neutralize unpleasant tastes in the mouth. Xylitol has been given the FDA's safest rating and is endorsed by health and dental proffessionals around the world. You might consider xylitol the natural sweetener the world has been waiting for--a sweetener that is acutally good for you!

More important facts about Xylitol: Unlike sugar, xylitol can be left on the teeth overnight. The presence of xylitol in the mouth discourages bacteria from growing and interferes with the formation of cavity-causing plaque.

Digesting Xylitol-  Some sensitive people may notice slight intestinal discomfort when they first begin consuming larger amounts of xylitol. This usually lasts only a short time while the body increases production of enzymes that break it down.

Xylitol can be used to replace sugar in your favorite recipes. Because xylitol  is a natural substance found in the foods we already eat, it is perfectly safe for human consumption and has been given the FDA's safest rating as a food additive.

Nature's Sweet Xylitol:

• Tastes just like sugar, with no artifical aftertaste.
• Replaces sugar in almost all recipes (heat stable). Use 50-75% of what recipe requires. Not recommended for yeast pastries or hard candy.
• Provides 0 grams of net carbs per serving.
• Supplies 40% fewer calories than sugar.
• Is safe for diabetics, hypoglycemics, children and pregnant women.
• Prevents cavity-causing bacteria from adhering to teeth.
• Has a low glycemic index of 7 (Sugar's is 87.)
• Is 100% natural.

I personally have been using this product for sometime now.  My suggestion is: this product is something to try, you may be pleasantly surprised!