Because of recent confusion and mis-statements by some bloggers, I'd like to report some facts about the sugar alcohol, Xylitol:
Like all sugar alcohols, unabsorbed (versus undigested) material is hygroscopic (attracts water) as it passes through the GI tract. This makes them potentially laxative at various doses; as always, moderation is the key.
o For xylitol, the common threshold is at 30-50 grams a day (1-2 ounces).
o For erythritol, an alternative sugar alcohol, there is practically no laxative effect since it is predominantly absorbed.
Xylitol is naturally found in plums, raspberries, and cauliflower; it is a naturally occurring sweetener that the body can handle.
Xylitol can be made from xylan; a fiber found in many plants including:
o corn husks, cobs, and stalks (corn bobs are the leading commercial source)
o certain hardwoods like birch and beech (relatively small commercial production is done in Europe for Scandinavian trees)
o rice, oat, wheat and cotton seed hulls (possible, but not a typical commercial source)
o various nut shells (possible, but not a typical commercial source)
o straw (possible, but not a typical commercial source)
o sugar cane (possible, but not a typical commercial source)
Xylitol does not require insulin.
Xylitol improves bone and tooth density, protects tooth enamel.
Xylitol has fewer calories than sugar; only about 2.4 calories per gram versus 4 for sugar.
Most xylitol is produced in China.
o However, GMO corn is not allowed for food production in China.
o There are some IP (documented as from non-GMO corn) supplies and others tested as non-GMO (the corn sources are tested before production, though IP is not in place yet).
o GMOs have not been found in xylitol from corn, despite unsubstantiated speculation from bloggers.
o China’s food safety laws have been expanded dramatically in recent years, and in some cases now exceed US standards.
Xylitol can be toxic to dogs, but so is chocolate. Pets can’t always eat our foods, but that doesn’t imply that these foods are somehow harmful to humans. This is a “straw man” argument that fades upon examination.
Some artificial sweeteners cannot be used in cooking; for example, aspartame. By contrast, natural sweeteners typically do not lose their sweetness when cooked. And studies have indicated that artificial sweeteners may backfire by shutting down the satiety signals that tell us when we’re full…in those studies the groups fed artificial sweeteners ate up to 3 times the calories as control groups. Sugar alcohols don’t raise blood sugar as rapidly as sugar does, yet they’re as bulky as sugar so they can be used “spoon - for - spoon” to replace sugar. But their level of sweetness may vary, with xylitol being the closest to sugar. Sugar alcohols have a range of sweetness and absorption; the amount that is absorbed from the GI tract affects the possibility of it being somewhat laxative at high levels, which can vary from person to person. Sorbitol may be laxative at moderate levels of 10 grams or more, mannitol at over 20 grams; xylitol at over 30 grams. Erythritol is virtually free of a laxative side affect even at higher levels, but is expensive. Also, sugar alcohols tend to have a cooling effect in the mouth and actually taste better when combined with a different type of sweetener. Sugar alcohols also boast an FDA-approved health claim: “Frequent between-meal consumption of foods high in sugars and starches promotes tooth decay. The sugar alcohols in [name of food] do not promote tooth decay.” A whole leaf, full spectrum extraction of Stevia should preserve the many phytonutrients naturally present in the plant. One study reported over 100 natural Stevia phytonutrients; the majority being polyphenols and other plant antioxidants. By contrast, there are about 9 steviosides. And the new Reb A fraction products being sold as food sweeteners are only a single chemical isolated from the stevia plant. There is a bitter aftertaste associated with traditional Stevia products. Some mix Stevia with sugar alcohols like erythritol in order for the sweetener to mask the bitter aftertaste. The recent crossover of a certain isolated fraction of Stevia (Reb A) as a mass market sweetener has some drawbacks: it doesn’t taste like either whole leaf or other traditional Stevia extracts, and is combined with both erythritol and natural flavors. Many stevia products are still only legal to sell as herbal dietary supplements, not as sweeteners. Some companies may think that all stevia products are now approved for use in foods, but that is not true. Retailers should take their cues from the packaging, and only carry reputable brands that strictly follow labeling laws. It is primarily the isolated “Reb A” fraction of stevia that can be used in foods. Most other stevias have not been approved for food use. There is a wide selection of natural/alternative sweeteners: Organic Agave Nectar, Barley Malt powder, Organic Brown Rice Syrup (some have no gluten [usually barley malt] added; some do), Beet Sugar (for those with cane allergies), Date Sugar (look for pure dried date pieces with no oat flour added), Dextrose, Fructose, Lactose, Organic Maple Syrup, Organic Sucanat®, and Organic Turbinado Sugar.
