Xylitol is naturally occurring in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables, we even produce small amounts in our bodies during normal metabolism. It is not an artificial sweetener and comes under the category of sugar alcohols, or Polyols.
It is usually produced from handpicked corn cobs or from the bark of Birch trees, corn cobs generally being the more sustainable environmentally friendly option.
Xylitol is about the same sweetness as sugar but with 40% less calories. It has a fresh sweetness with no after taste. It has a very low Glycemic index of between 7 -11 compared with sugar at 65 and doesn’t spike blood sugar levels. Therefore it's a great choice for diabetics.
Xylitol is an excellent alternative to sugar particularly for those interested in weight loss, diabetes, tooth care and general health.
Quite the opposite of sugar, Xylitol reduces our risk of tooth decay. Instead of feeding the bad bacteria in our mouths it starves them by reducing our mouths acidity. Xylitol helps prevent dental cavities, plaque build-up and gum disease. Many tooth pastes are now available containing Xylitol.
Excessive consumption of Xylitol can have a laxative effect for some people, so make sure to take it in small amounts first. One study we found suggests that for a typical 60kg female up to 142 grams of Xylitol is fine with no side effects of the laxative kind (reference).
Xylitol can be harmful to dogs so please don’t feed it to your four legged friends. Here is an FAQ on this subject from a New Zealand vet.
Learn more about Xylitol here: https://xylitol.org/ <-- check it out, it is really fascinating!!
You can also learn more about Polyols at https://polyols.org/
