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Xylitol: Sweet Like Sugar, But Better For Teeth And Body

Sugar in excess is considered unhealthy. So that those with a sweet tooth can get their money’s worth without a guilty conscience, there are sugar substitutes such as xylitol. We will introduce you to birch sugar in more detail.

Pleasure without regrets: xylitol

Household sugar has a bad reputation: if you eat too much of it, you can get fat and increase your risk of developing diabetes, fatty liver, and high blood pressure. In many foods, it is therefore replaced by a sugar substitute that can support a concept such as the DASH diet. This includes xylitol, or xylitol, sugar alcohol. It already occurs as a natural component in some vegetables and fruits. In order for you to be able to buy it as a sugar substitute, xylitol has to be extracted from the bark of birch trees using a chemical process. Therefore it is also known under the name birch sugar. In the list of additives in food, xylitol is listed under the designation E 967 and is particularly popular in chewing gum for dental care. The reason for this is its anti-cariogenic – i.e. caries-preventing – effect. Xylitol candies and xylitol powder, which is suitable for baking without sugar, are also popular.

Energy value and occurrence of xylitol

Xylitol has about the same sweetening power as sugar. If you would like to implement recipes with sugar alternatives, you can replace them 1:1 with birch sugar. This is not only good for your teeth, but also for your figure. Because xylitol has only about 240 kcal per 100 g, while table sugar has 400 kcal per 100 g. A saving of 40 percent, which is used in the low-carb diet. There is xylitol ice cream, xylitol cocoa, xylitol ketchup, xylitol biscuits, xylitol lollipops, and many other sweets with the sugar substitute. Like many other sugar alternatives (e.g. erythritol), large amounts of xylitol can cause diarrhea. If necessary, you should take a look at the list of ingredients for spreads, desserts, sauces, diet products, drinks, convenience foods, and dietary supplements if you suspect that birch sugar is having a laxative effect on you.

What you should consider when using xylitol

You can use xylitol instead of sugar in both baking and cooking, and it has no aftertaste. The consistency is very similar, but xylitol is more soluble when warm than cold. The only restriction: yeast dough does not rise with xylitol. Also, refrain from mixing the sugar substitute with other sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, or sorbitol – it may then no longer be well tolerated.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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