Nowadays, more and more people are looking for natural alternatives for sugar as the health consequences of eating too much sugar are widely reported. The reason for this are many diseases, from diabetes to obesity. However, even though there are many artificial sweeteners are available out there, they all contain harmful additives known to be detrimental to health and well being.
Xylitol powder is a natural sugar substitute extract from nature, and free of controversial ingredients such as aspartame. It looks and tastes like sugar, but has 40% less calories than regular sugar and doesn’t raise blood sugar levels. Because xylitol powder is a refined sweetener, it does not contain any minerals, vitamins or protein. While the name may sounds unfamiliar to you, xylitol is a very common ingredient in sugar-free chewing gums, mints, candies and diabetes friendly foods.
Xylitol powder looks like this: a white, crystalline powder.
Xylitol Powder Has Major Benefits For Dental Health
Numerous studies have shown that xylitol is very beneficial for dental health and can even prevent tooth decay. One of the major causes of tooth decay is Streptococcus mutans, a type of oral bacteria. This bacteria is responsible for plaque. While it is pretty normal to have some plaque on the teeth, excess of it can lead to inflammatory gum diseases like gingivitis. So how does xylitol help protect teeth? Streptococcus mutans feed on glucose from food, but they cannot feed from xylitol powder. Hence, replacing sugar with xylitol reduces the available food for the harmful bacteria.
Other dental benefits of Xylitol powder are:
Increased calcium absorption in the digestive system which is good for your teeth.
Increased saliva production – saliva contains phosphate and calcium, which are picked up by the teeth and help in remineralization.
Reduced acidity of the saliva which helps to fight degradation of tooth enamel.
Xylitol Powder Reduces Ear Infection In Children and Helps Fight the Yeast Candida Albicans
Because nose, mouth and ears are all interconnected, the bacteria that lives in the mouth can also cause an ear infections, a common problem in children. Studies also found out that the bacterias that cause ear infection cannot feed from xylitol, just like with the plaque-producing-bacteria in the mouth. Xylitol powder also helps combat the yeast candida albicans by decreasing its capacity to stick to a surface and cause infection.
Other Potential Health Benefits Of Xylitol Powder
Xylitol powder can raise the production of collagen and help minimize the aging effects of the skin.
Xylitol powder may also be protective against osteoporosis, increasing bone volume.
Xylitol powder seams to have prebiotic effects, feeding the friendly bacteria in the gut.
Dosage, Side Effects & Where To Buy
Although xylitol powder is usually well tolerated, some people do experience certain digestive side effects when they consume it too much. This side effects include bloating, gas and diarrhea. However, the majority seems to adjust to it very well. The daily recommended dosage of xylitol powder is no more than 400 grams; this will help avoid negative side effects. If you want to buy xylitol powder, there is a great selection of it online.