What is Xylitol?
Find out if this sugar replacement is safe.

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is found in fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, and plums. It is also found in vegetables such as corn, endive, and mushrooms. Our bodies also produces xylitol in its daily metabolic processes.

What is xylitol made from?

Xylitol is extracting from one of two different sources: either the birch tree, or corn cobs. Manufacturers combine it in a chemical process that produces xylose or "wood sugar." Hydrogen (H2) is then added to make xylitol.

Xylitol is considered a "sugar alcohol". Xylitol has the same sweetness as sugar but with 40% less calories. It is metabolized in the body differently than sugar, and has a very low glycemic index.

Xylitol doesn't spike blood sugar levels like sugar products. Because it is granulated like sugar, it can easily be used as a sugar substitute in recipes that call for sugar.

Xylitol actually helps prevent dental cavities, so this is why it is used in many consumer products such as toothpaste and chewing gum. Xylitol is even used in products such as nasal wash to prevent nasal or throat infections.

The only downside with xylitol seems to be its potential to cause digestive problems such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

So there you go, your question, What is xylitol, has been answered!

Something better than xylitol...

After a great deal of research, I've found a product that is very similar to xylitol, but doesn't seem to cause the digestive problems. This product is called erythritol.

What is erythritol?

Like xylitol, erythritol is also a sugar alcohol. It is manufactured and produced in the same way that xylitol is.

The big difference, as compared to other sugar alcohols, is that erythritol has a high digestive tolerance. In fact, it has the highest digestive tolerance of all the sugar alcohols. Its digestive tolerance is 2-3 times better than xylitol.

Is erythritol safe?

It appears to be very safe. Clinical studies have demonstrated its safety, even when consumed on a daily basis in relatively high amounts. In 1997, the FDA gave erythritol "GRAS" (Generally Recognized as Safe) status.

How do you use erythritol?

You can substitute erythritol measure-for-measure for sugar. In the sugar free recipes that I've posted on this site, I typically combine it with the natural herbal sweetener, stevia, to heighten the sweetness of erythritol. Click here for some great erythritol recipes.

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