Xylitol, a low-calorie sugar made from birch bark, certain fibrous
fruits and vegetables and corn cobs, is almost too good to be true. It
is a safe, natural sweetener which is as sweet as, and tastes exactly
like, cane or beet sugar but:
Ear, nose and throat Infections
One study showed that recurrent middle ear infections during the first two years of life can result in significant impairment in reading ability up to the age of nine.4 Another study showed significant long-term learning and social problems extending up to the age of eighteen.5 Chewing xylitol-flavoured gum reduces the incidence of middle-ear infections by 40%, significantly decreasing ongoing middle-ear complications and the need for antibiotics.6
Candida
Xylitol has been shown to be effective in inhibiting candida albicans, a serious systemic yeast problem, and other harmful gut bacteria including H. Pylori, implicated in periodontal disease, bad breath, gastric and duodenal ulcers and even stomach cancer.
Osteoporosis
A rat-based study in Finland found that xylitol maintained and even increased bone density in rats that had had their ovaries removed. Rat controls deprived of their ovaries but not given xylitol experienced plummeting oestrogen levels and reductions in bone density.7 Although one cannot extrapolate results from rat-based to human-based research, the scientists reckoned that a human dose of 40gm a day would probably have a similar protective effect.
How much?
Studies show that four to twelve grams of xylitol per day are very effective. The “all xylitol” mints and gums usually contain about one gram of xylitol in each piece. It is not necessary to use more than 15 grams per day as higher intakes yield diminishing dental benefits.
How often?
If used only occasionally or just once a day, xylitol may not be effective, regardless of the amount. Use xylitol at least three, and preferably five times a day, spread across the day.
Timing?
Use xylitol immediately after eating and clearing the mouth by swishing water. Between meals, replace ordinary chewing gum, breath mints or breath spray with comparable xylitol products.
Availability
Xylitol-containing products include bags of neat xylitol, chewing gum, nasal spray, nasal wash, toothpaste and mouth spray. They are stocked by many chemists and health food shops. Xylitol’s website www.xylitol.org provides a lot more information on the medical research that has been carried out and, of course, online purchasing.
Xylitol UK Ltd’s other contact details are: 62 Cambridge Court, Amhurst Park, London N16 5AQ % 0208 809 0411
email sales@xylitoluk.co.uk
Editorial
Given the health dangers of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, natural alternative non-sugar sweeteners like zsweet, xylitol and stevia are very welcome.
(ii) In December 2008 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally issued ‘letters of non-objection’ to two 100% stevia-based sweeteners -Truvia (used by Coca Cola and Cargill) and PureVia (used by The Whole Earth Sweetener Company LLC and PepsiCo). No approval has yet been granted for bags of neat stevia for use as a domestic sugar alternative.
(iii) First manufactured by a German chemist in 1891, xylitol was rediscovered by Finnish scientists looking for a sugar substitute during World War II. By the 1960s it was being used for people with diabetes in Germany, Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Japan. More recently xylitol has also been used widely in Italy and China.
References
1 Beiswanger,BB et al. Journal of the American Dental Association 1998;129:1623-26
2 Hayes, Catherine. The effect of non-cariogenic sweeteners on the prevention of dental caries: a review of evidence. Harvard School Of Dental Medicine
3 How Xylitol-containing products affect cariogenic bacteria. Jnl. American Dental Assoc., April 2000.
4 Luotonen M, Uhari M, Aitola, L et a1. Recurrent otitis media during infancy and linguistic skills at the age of nine years. Jnl. Pediatric Infection1996;15:854-58
5 Bennett et al. Archives of diseases in childhood 2001 Aug;85(2):91-5
6 Uhari,M et al. Vaccine 2000;19 Supplement 1:S144-47
(though found ineffective in high-risk children)
7 Svanberg,M et al. Calcified Tissue International 1997;60:462-66
- contains 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates
- boosts rather than disrupts the immune system
- protects against rather than encourages harmful bacteria and
increases rather than decreases plaque alkali levels in the mouth, thus
is good for your teeth.1,2 Furthermore, if women use xylitol when pregnant, its protective effect against tooth decay is passed from mother to baby3
- is slowly absorbed and metabolised by the body, helping
stabilise insulin and hormone levels, protecting against breast cancer
and slowing ageing
- has no known toxic effects
- can replace sugar in cooking, baking and beverages
- is also found in chewing gum, mints and nasal sprays
Ear, nose and throat Infections
One study showed that recurrent middle ear infections during the first two years of life can result in significant impairment in reading ability up to the age of nine.4 Another study showed significant long-term learning and social problems extending up to the age of eighteen.5 Chewing xylitol-flavoured gum reduces the incidence of middle-ear infections by 40%, significantly decreasing ongoing middle-ear complications and the need for antibiotics.6
Candida
Xylitol has been shown to be effective in inhibiting candida albicans, a serious systemic yeast problem, and other harmful gut bacteria including H. Pylori, implicated in periodontal disease, bad breath, gastric and duodenal ulcers and even stomach cancer.
Osteoporosis
A rat-based study in Finland found that xylitol maintained and even increased bone density in rats that had had their ovaries removed. Rat controls deprived of their ovaries but not given xylitol experienced plummeting oestrogen levels and reductions in bone density.7 Although one cannot extrapolate results from rat-based to human-based research, the scientists reckoned that a human dose of 40gm a day would probably have a similar protective effect.
How much?
Studies show that four to twelve grams of xylitol per day are very effective. The “all xylitol” mints and gums usually contain about one gram of xylitol in each piece. It is not necessary to use more than 15 grams per day as higher intakes yield diminishing dental benefits.
How often?
If used only occasionally or just once a day, xylitol may not be effective, regardless of the amount. Use xylitol at least three, and preferably five times a day, spread across the day.
Timing?
Use xylitol immediately after eating and clearing the mouth by swishing water. Between meals, replace ordinary chewing gum, breath mints or breath spray with comparable xylitol products.
Availability
Xylitol-containing products include bags of neat xylitol, chewing gum, nasal spray, nasal wash, toothpaste and mouth spray. They are stocked by many chemists and health food shops. Xylitol’s website www.xylitol.org provides a lot more information on the medical research that has been carried out and, of course, online purchasing.
Xylitol UK Ltd’s other contact details are: 62 Cambridge Court, Amhurst Park, London N16 5AQ % 0208 809 0411
email sales@xylitoluk.co.uk
Editorial
Given the health dangers of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, natural alternative non-sugar sweeteners like zsweet, xylitol and stevia are very welcome.
(ii) In December 2008 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally issued ‘letters of non-objection’ to two 100% stevia-based sweeteners -Truvia (used by Coca Cola and Cargill) and PureVia (used by The Whole Earth Sweetener Company LLC and PepsiCo). No approval has yet been granted for bags of neat stevia for use as a domestic sugar alternative.
(iii) First manufactured by a German chemist in 1891, xylitol was rediscovered by Finnish scientists looking for a sugar substitute during World War II. By the 1960s it was being used for people with diabetes in Germany, Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Japan. More recently xylitol has also been used widely in Italy and China.
References
1 Beiswanger,BB et al. Journal of the American Dental Association 1998;129:1623-26
2 Hayes, Catherine. The effect of non-cariogenic sweeteners on the prevention of dental caries: a review of evidence. Harvard School Of Dental Medicine
3 How Xylitol-containing products affect cariogenic bacteria. Jnl. American Dental Assoc., April 2000.
4 Luotonen M, Uhari M, Aitola, L et a1. Recurrent otitis media during infancy and linguistic skills at the age of nine years. Jnl. Pediatric Infection1996;15:854-58
5 Bennett et al. Archives of diseases in childhood 2001 Aug;85(2):91-5
6 Uhari,M et al. Vaccine 2000;19 Supplement 1:S144-47
(though found ineffective in high-risk children)
7 Svanberg,M et al. Calcified Tissue International 1997;60:462-66
(13935) Sherill Sellman. Nexus (1.1.2003)
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