Benefits and Side Effect of Xylitol
1. Cures Ulcers/ Sores in the mouth
2. Expels Tonsilloliths (white balls on tonsils) which are caused by bacteria laying eggs that calcify into tiny white stones blocking the airway to breathe, causing you to feel like there’s something stuck in your throat.
4. bits of help get rid of Gout
5. Good for Diabetics by helping to control blood sugar levels
6. Improves bone density
7. Prevents ear infections, prevents ringing in ears (Tinnitus), and improves hearing.
8. forms a tooth-friendly plaque that doesn’t stick to the teeth, unlike sugary stuff, preventing tartar and gum disease.
9. Prevents tooth decay
10. Reduces symptoms of Asthma
11. Helps maintain a healthy weight by preventing excess sugar from being stored as fat in the hips & thighs, where they breed fat cells that release toxins back into the bloodstream 12. Cures bad breath 13. Reduces your chances of getting cancer 14. Prevents the formation of kidney stones.
15. Protects against cavities
16. Reduces tooth sensitivity
17. Helps control osteoporosis (weakening of the bones)
18. Bits help prevent cardiovascular disease
19. Lowers cholesterol levels
20. Kills plaque bacteria almost instantly
21. Cures chronic dry mouth
22. Prevents canker sores
23. Helps prevent ear infections
24. Removes plaque biofilm that is at the root of many common modern diseases, including problems with joints and bones, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, immune system dysfunction, chronic fatigue syndrome, poor memory & confusion
25. Strengthens tooth enamel
26. Reduces the incidence of brain atrophy
27. Prevents tooth decay
28. Helps with Type 1 diabetes
29. Prevents urinary tract infections
30. Helps heal bone fractures
31. Cures Gum Disease
32. Lowers high blood pressure
33. Improves kidney function
34. Anti-inflammatory
35. Kills bacteria in the mouth, preventing tooth decay
36. Promotes healthy pregnancies
37. Prevents eczema
38. Improves breathing in people with respiratory problems
39. Cures acne
40. Helps fight herpesvirus
41. Boosts immune system
42. Fights plaque that causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) from forming & has been shown to reverse the disease
43. Boosts fertility in men & women
44. Good for cardiovascular health
45. Helps prevent tooth decay.
Xylitol side Effects:
I just love this as a sugar substitute, I have been using it for years, but what is the deal with the toxins that are released from chewing gum made with xylitol? I read something about formaldehyde being used in embalming and being carcinogenic. Is this true? If so why do they put a product like this in food?
I have been baking with xylitol for years, I use it in cookies, slices of bread, muffins, etc. but what are the side effects of using this product long-term since there are toxins being released when chewing gum made with xylitol? How can they put a carcinogen in food kinds of stuff?
Marly, xylitol is a naturally occurring low-calorie sweetener used as a sugar substitute. It can be derived from plants like corn and berries or produced in laboratories using the birch and other hardwood trees.
Xylitol’s production results in the creation of formaldehyde, but not to any significant amount. According to FDA guidelines on food additives, the levels of formaldehyde in foods are well below the amount that can cause health problems. In fact, you’re exposed to much greater amounts of formaldehyde from environmental sources such as cigarette smoke and car exhaust.
Contrary to what you may have heard, xylitol does not release formaldehyde when it’s digested or metabolized by the body. The formaldehyde forms during the manufacturing process, not when the sweetener is in your body.
Xylitol calories:
Xylitol does not affect your blood sugar because it is a low-calorie sweetener. This means that it provides fewer calories than table sugar, which contains 16 calories in every teaspoon. If you use xylitol instead of sugar for your coffee or tea, you can cut your calorie intake by 80% to 90%.
Xylitol Toxicity:
Eating xylitol may cause some side effects in some people, including abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Drinking too much water when eating xylitol may also lead to low blood sodium levels (hyponatremia), which can make you feel weak or confused. Severe hyponatremia can lead to seizures or coma.
Xylitol is harmful to pets, particularly dogs and cats. If a pet eats xylitol it may damage the animal’s liver and red blood cells, which can be fatal. The product monograph for XyliChew lists this side effect as low risk. In fact, most xylitol side effects would be considered low risk.
The whole concern about xylitol and possible exposure to formaldehyde is probably blown out of proportion. The truth is that the exposure you get from this product is not enough to cause significant or noticeable harm, especially if you use it as a substitute for sugar in baked goods and other food items.
Xylitol has been shown to be a safe and effective sweetener that may even have some health benefits. There’s a growing body of research on the effect of low-calorie sweeteners, particularly xylitol, on weight loss and blood sugar control in diabetics.
Xylitol Diabetes:
Many people with diabetes use xylitol as a sugar substitute in their beverages and food. Low-calorie sweeteners have been shown to help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels. In one study, the effect of low-calorie sweeteners on glucose control was evaluated in 20 patients with diabetes.
(1) The participants were given 7.5 grams of either a low-calorie sweetener or table sugar (sucrose) to drink before their main meal. After three days, the use of low-calorie sweeteners resulted in lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels than did the use of sucrose.
In another study, 16 patients with diabetes were given 0-20 grams of either xylitol or sucrose before their meals.
(2) The study showed that the amount of xylitol had a greater effect on blood sugar levels than did the amount of sucrose.
One thing you have to remember is that not all research has shown the positive effects of low-calorie sweeteners, especially in diabetics. For example, in another study, six adults with type 2 diabetes were given either a low-calorie sweetener or sucrose to drink before a test meal consisting of bread and orange juice.
(3) The results showed that glucose and insulin levels did not differ significantly between the two groups.
Xylitol gum:
The use of xylitol gums and candies may be helpful in preventing tooth decay. Xylitol has been shown to reduce the ability of cavity-causing bacteria, such as S. mutans, to stick to your teeth and form plaque. Several studies have shown that the use of chewing gum sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40%.
what is xylitol made from:
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol or polyol. It is a white, crystalline material with the molecular formula C5H12O4 and relative sweetness of 100 compared to sucrose (table sugar). Xylitol is derived from xylan-rich hardwood trees, birch in particular.
(1) Birch bark contains pentosan chains with side-branching β-D-xylopyranosyl units. These xylan chains form a tight mesh as they cross-link, trapping sugar molecules as water is removed. Birch bark is processed to extract xylose and pentoses, which are then converted into pure xylitol.
In the laboratory, xylose is hydrogenated to provide the monosaccharide xylitol.
(2) Commercially, birch bark is harvested from living trees or collected as lumber waste. The bark is chipped, heated under pressure at low pH in a dilute mineral acid (such as hydrochloric acid), partially neutralized, and washed. The resulting birchwood xylan is separated, purified, and hydrolyzed to separate the xylose component.
(3) Xylose is hydrogenated to xylitol under high temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst such as Raney nickel or a mixture of aluminum oxide and sodium hydroxide. Xylitol, either in crystalline or powdered form, is then mixed with other food-grade ingredients to form the candy.
(4) Xylitol-containing gums are generally manufactured by heating mixtures of xylitol and food starches. The resulting pastes are placed into rolls, which are cooled and ground into granules, and then mixed with flavorings, colors, and other ingredients to form the gum base. The gum is coated (either by dipping or spraying) with the final coating solution of waxes, lecithin, or glycerol.
Note that some xylitol-containing gums are manufactured by simply mixing finely ground xylitol into chewing gum without making a separate gum base.