Due to the health disadvantages of conventional sugar, people are increasingly turning to alternatives. One healthy sugar substitute is xylitol, which has been known for over 30 years. It looks and tastes like sugar, but has the property of keeping the human body healthy, as it strengthens the immune system.
What is xylitol?Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that contains five carbon atoms and is found naturally in many fruits, mushrooms and vegetables. Although xylitol has the same sweetening power as conventional sugar, it has a calorific value that is about 40 percent lower.
For the production of xylitol, mainly xylose- or xylan-containing plant fibers are used as raw material. These include, for example, corn, beech bark or birch bark. Therefore, xylitol is also called birch sugar or wood sugar.
The human body can process xylitol well, as it is a natural substance that occurs regularly in glucose metabolism and is found as an intermediate in many human tissues, such as the liver.
The advantages of xylitol
Unlike normal household sugar, xylitol has no damaging effect on the teeth. On the contrary, because it even has a positive effect on dental health and inhibits the development of caries. Xylitol has an antimicrobial effect on harmful microorganisms in the oral cavity; it protects against plaque and gingivitis. It also strengthens bones and prevents osteoporosis.
Xylitol is particularly suitable for diabetics, as it is processed by the body independently of insulin. It is absorbed and metabolized very slowly by the body. This changes the insulin level only slightly, so it is also very well tolerated by diabetics in small quantities. Xylitol promotes the release of the fat-burning hormone glucagon, which serves to burn the fat reserves in the body. Regular intake of xylitol can therefore also promote slow and lasting weight loss.
The use of xylitol
Xylitol is generally well tolerated by humans. Only the intake of very high doses can have a laxative effect. Initially, it is advantageous to take only small doses until the body has become accustomed to the sugar substitute. Xylitol can be used for baking and cooking, since it replaces sugar almost equally, but has only half the amount of calories. It can also be used to sweeten coffee, tea and sodas.
Xylitol can make a major contribution to a healthy lifestyle and also have a positive effect on the figure. Teeth, gums and bones also benefit from eating the tasty sugar substitute.
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