Xylitol

Xylitol, the low-calorie, natural sweetener that prevents cavities

Xylitol is found in strawberries, raspberries and plums, and is even made by the body during normal metabolism. Xylitol is not fructose; it is a 5 carbon natural sweetener that looks and tastes like ordinary sugar but that’s where the similarities end. Table sugars are 6 carbon and the loss of 1 carbon prevents bacteria from feeding on the sweetener.

Xylitol was first discovered in Europe in the late 19th century, and widely used in Finland during WWII. Without a domestic supply of sugar, the Finns embraced this new sweetener, discovering years later that those who used xylitol had better health than those who didn’t. This stimulated research to discover why.

Xylitol was found to have a unique chemical structure that makes it resistant to cavity-causing bacteria and certain infections. Today, it is one of the most studied — and safe — substances on earth with more than 1,500 published studies in existence.

Incorporating xylitol into the daily diet can encourage healthy weight loss. Low-calorie, low-glycemic xylitol slows stomach-emptying time, bypassing the ‘spike’ in insulin-release that causes appetite swings and food bingeing.  Purchase.