Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute found in some fruits and vegetables, and is commonly used in chewing gum and dental products due to its oral hygiene benefits. It has fewer calories than sugar and is popular among people with diabetes.
Xylitol is a natural hydrogenated carbohydrate that in pure form resembles white crystals and can be used as a sugar substitute or artificial sweetener. It can be found in some fruits and vegetables, including corn, oats, and berries, as well as the bark of birch trees. Additionally, humans produce a daily amount of xylitol as the body breaks down its carbohydrates.
The word “xylitol” is of Greek origin. It is a combination of the Greek word “xylos”, which means wood, and the suffix “itol”, which means alcohol. Xylose can be isolated from a wood source and hydrogenated. This explains why xylitol is classified as a sugar alcohol. Other examples of this group include glycerol and sorbitol.
Xylitol was discovered in the late 1800s based on the research of chemists from France and Germany. By the 1960s, xylitol had come into popular use as an alternative sweetener for people with diabetes because the body doesn’t need insulin to process the substance, like sugar does. Xylitol also provides sweetness without any unpleasant aftertaste. By the end of the 20th century, it had become a common additive to special diet food products, making it the most popular sugar alcohol in the world.
A further reason for xylitol’s popularity is its similarity to table sugar or sucrose, but it does not possess the level of sweetness of sucrose. While 1 teaspoon of hydrogenated carbohydrates has about 10 kilocalories (kcal), the same amount of table sugar offers 15 kcal. So xylitol contains less energy than sucrose, which considerably reduces its impact on the blood sugar level of people with diabetes. Also, due to the adverse effects of excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates, the substance can be used to prevent or combat conditions such as blood pressure, weight gain, bad cholesterol, low blood sugar levels, and by extension heart disease. obesity and hypoglycemia.
The best known use of this particular sugar alcohol is in chewing gum and hard candy. It is also known for its oral hygiene applications. Such use was discovered in the 1970s, when Finnish researchers suggested that the substance could be of great benefit to dental health. Specifically, xylitol can be used to reduce plaque buildup, help stop cavities from developing, and increase saliva to repair damaged enamel in your teeth. It can be found in dental products such as toothpastes, fluoride tablets, and mouthwashes.
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