NATURALLY SWEET: XYLITOL

You could easily forgive anyone for thinking that Xylitol sounds like a dangerous artificial sugar, as the name just screams chemicals and synthetics.  I was very sceptical before I started using this sugar and therefore did my research and then some. The sweet truth about xylitol may surprise many. 

I was helping a good friend out at her Green Tea Hawaii stall just yesterday at the Bulimba festival when I discovered that many people in Brisbane (or at least in the Bulimba-Hawthorne community) shared my initial apprehension about Xylitol. Just a bit of background for you: Green Tea Hawaii is a a highly concentrated form of green tea and the superfood noni that contains the same antioxidant value as 45 cups of regular green tea. Just 1 serving a day provides you with numerous health benefits, such as increased energy, increased metabolism, lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and a reduction in muscle damage, to name a few. Two servings of Green Tea Hawaii a day, one 15-30 minutes before breakfast and another 15-30 minutes before lunch or dinner will assist in both weight loss and weight control, in conjunction with a healthy diet and active lifestyle. I could talk all day about Green Tea Hawaii and what positives it has done for my body, however that is not the point of this post. The point is that as we discussed the numerous health benefits, our experience with the tea and what exact ingredients were involved, people's noses got wildly out of joint about the fact that there was just 5% sugar or sweetening blend in the entire tea or just over 1/2 a gram of sugar in one serving. A small amount of this 5% contained xylitol, one of my favourite sugars, which made people even more apprehensive. I'm not hear to preach at all about what you should and shouldn't be drinking, but I desperately do want to share the very interesting benefits I have discovered over the past several months about xylitol and why I use it and love it. 

The Facts

• Xylitol is a low kilojoule sugar substitute 
• It is found naturally in fibrous fruits, such as plums and vegetables, such as corn. Commerical forms of this sugar are found in birch and other hardwood trees
• This natural sugar is also found in our bodies, in human tissue
• Xylitol contains 40% less kilojoules than many other sugars on the shelves, therefore making it a great choice for people with diabetes and those wanting to lose weight 
• It contains hardly any carbohydrates
• It has a low GI of 7, whilst other sugars have a GI of 100, which means that these sugars enter the blood stream a lot quicker than xylitol
• Xylitol is absorbed by the body very slowly, making it a natural insulin stabiliser. As it is absorbed at a slow pace you avoid the 'sugar spike' that you experience by consuming other sugar products, which results in a severe drop in blood sugar and a desire for more sugar
• Due to this slow absorption, xylitol reduces sugar and carbohydrate cravings
• Extensive research has revealed that xylitol has a positive effect on oral health. Xylitol actually assists in preventing streptococcus mutans, the primary bacteria that causes dental cavities, from cultivating in teeth as xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria, whilst other sugars enable this growth. 
• Because this powerful sugar prevents the growth of bacteria, it also encourages aural (ear and hearing) health. A 2004 study revealed that xylitol impairs the bacteria streptococcus pneumoniae, one of the leading causes of ear infections. The study found that by damaging this bacteria, xylitol assisted in inhibiting the bacteria from multiplying. 
• This naturally-found sugar also actively restores minor dental damage
• Xylitol has no unappetising bitter aftertaste, like you find with artificial sweeteners

You can buy xylitol in health food stores, as it is not currently a big enough household name in Australia to be stocked in major supermarkets. However I am hoping that with more Australians trying this natural sugar the demand will have an effect on the supply and we will find this sugar much more accessible. 

If you want to find out more about Green Tea Hawaii, head to https://www.facebook.com/AlohaHealth?fref=ts or alohahealth.com.au. 

x Emily