Xylitol

WHAT IS XYLITOL?
Xylitol is a substance that is found mostly in foods labeled 'sugar-free'. That would include such food products as meal replacements, cookies, sweets, chewing gum, mints, soft drinks and cough sweets. It is product designed to help people cut down the amount of sugar in their diet without loosing the taste and sweetness. This is of obvious benefit for those people looking to lose weight and those following low carbohydrate and ketogenic diets such as the atkins style approach. 

HOW DOES  WORK?
People are growing ever more concerned with the amount and the quality of carbohydrates in their diet - especially in light of the most recent research outlining the amazing benefits of low-carbohydrate diets. This can possibly make it very difficult to find a range of foods you can actually eat, as most foods contain too much carbohydrate for these low or restricted carbohydrate diets. However, research shows that products containing Xylitol (pronounced zie-lit-ol) can help to control insulin levels and curb your appetite.

A recent study of healthy men examined their metabolic response to Xylitol. The results show that while glucose (a type of sugar) caused an increase in both blood sugar and insulin levels, Xylitol did not have such a pronounced effect. Xylitol has also been shown to reduce your appetite, by keeping you feeling fuller for longer. In effect it is a sugar that does not cause a rise of either blood sugar or insulin output and so can allow the replacement of sweetness back into the products in replacement of normal sugar.

Very cleverly Xylitol will allow you to avoid any form of tooth decay as Xylitol is not fermented by the oral bacteria, and it inhibits bacterial growth. Children chewing gum containing xylitol for five minutes five times daily for two years had large reductions in caries risk compared to those not chewing gum. Another study found xylitol-containing gums have long-term protection against caries.

Foods that contain Xylitol will help to control insulin levels and curb your appetite to a far greater extent than those containing dextrose or maltodextrin, making it a superior choice of sweetner in products - especially those desinged for the restricted carbohydrate diet.

HOW MUCH AND WHEN?
If you're trying to lose weight or reduce the sugar content of your diet, look for products containing xylitol rather than dextrose or maltodextrin. There is no specific amount or daily serving requirement. Think of this as a smart sugar that is better for your physique and your health.