So what about xylitol – it’s another safe sugar substitute. Yea!
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and does not require insulin to be metabolised. It’s been used in other countries for years by diabetics as a safe alternative to sugar and artificial sweetners – notably Russia and Japan. And it does not promote tooth decay so you’ll find it in many sugar free chewing gums, mints and toothpastes. There are many other studies that show other health benefits to the use of xylitol – check it out on a search on the good old internet.
Because xylitol is only slowly absorbed and partially utilized, you will find it a great low calorie substitute to sugar. More specifically – 2.4 calories per gram or 40% less than other carbs.
Xylitol is a natural substance found in many vegetables and fruits, as well as in some species of hardwood trees such as birch. In fact, most of the xylitol you’ll find out in the market is extracted from birch pulp. And – your body even produces anywhere up to 15 grams daily.
So how does it taste? It is sweet with a very slight cooling sensation. You can use it 1:1 in place of sugar but one word of warning – eating large amounts of xylitol can cause intestinal distress with some people more sensitive than others.
My experience of using it in small quantities such as to sweeten a fruit-ade or tea has been without problems.
