X is for Xylitol

How can we combat the sugar epidemic?

The dangers of sugars and refined carbohydrates in the diet have been well documented. Excess consumption of sugar can cause hypoglycemia and weight gain, leading to diabetes and obesity. Sugar also raises blood pressure, triglycerides and bad cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease. Children who consume excess sugar have difficulty concentrating and learning. And that’s just scraping the surface of the havoc sugar causes on our systems!
Considering Americans consume an estimated whopping 68.5 pounds of sugar per person, per year, the nutritional need for a safe, natural sweetener that tastes great and does not lead to health problems is more critical than ever. That sweetener is xylitol!

 

Benefits of Xylitol: The “sugar” that won’t wreck your body

While Xylitol is just as sweet as table sugar (sucrose), it has about 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates. That in itself can make a big impact on your waistline! Importantly, xylitol is slowly absorbed and metabolized, resulting in very negligible changes in insulin. With this Xylitol benefit, it won’t raise your blood sugar like regular sugar, which puts tremendous strain on your system, causing negative health effects.

Many healthy benefits for diabetics

Thanks to its insulin-independent nature, xylitol has been used in Germany, Switzerland, Russia and Japan as a preferred sweetener for diabetic diets since the 1960’s. If you do have diabetes, however, it’s important to consult your doctor or diet professional before incorporating xylitol into your daily diet.