|
 With
all the recent press about the dangers of certain sugar-substitutes,
Xylitol presents a welcome relief. It is not only healthy
(it is good for the teeth and low-glycemic) but tastes
and looks identical to normal sugar except for a slight
cooling effect on the tongue (there is absolutely no bitter
after taste as there is with some sugar substitutes).
Xylitol is a white crystalline sweetener
that occurs naturally in berries, fruit, vegetables, mushrooms
and birch trees. In fact, in Finland it is known as "birch
sugar" because the principal raw ingredient in its
manufacture is xylan or wood fibre. It is even found naturally
in our bodies, and has been shown to be completely non-toxic
and safe to take (unlike many other alternative sweeteners).
Recently, Xylitol has become very popular as a sugar substitute
because it has been shown to help reduce tooth decay and
even help reverse it when it is already present. It can do
this because of its molecular structure which makes it unusable
by the mouth bacteria that cause dental caries – plaque
cannot grow with it. Also, as saliva that contains Xylitol
is alkaline (the pH is above 7), the calcium and phosphate
salts in our saliva can start to naturally remineralize our
tooth enamel in the places that they are lacking, which has
a hardening effect on decay-softened enamel.
One of the added benefits of Xylitol is the fact that it
is both a low-glycaemic sweetener and alkalizing to the body,
making it an ideal sugar substitute for those on weight-loss
diets and for those wanting optimum health without the “sugar-blues”.
(Xylitol, however, is not a low or no calorie product — each
teaspoon or 4g contains 9.6 calories as opposed to normal
sugar's 15.8 calories for the equivalent weight.) As it is
low-glycemic, it has become popular as a sweetener for diabetics
and those interested in Syndrome X.
The Really Healthy Company's Xylitol is
100% pure-grade white crystalline powder made from hard wood (not corn) which can be used
as a healthy sugar substitute, or just taken orally and swished
around the mouth for good dental care. It is identical in
taste and sweetness to normal sugar except for a slight cooling
effect on the tongue. And there is also no bitter after-taste
as with other sugar substitutes. Xylitol can be used in cooking as well, in the same way as sugar. (There is a also a xylitol cookbook listed on our recommended book page in the magazine section of this site.)
500g pack — £8.45 SHOP ONLINE |
