What is Xylitol?

When you are sitting in the waiting room of the dentist's office, don't you wish you had eaten less sugar? As you wait nervously for your name to be called, you start to mull over how you could manage that. The answer may be xylitol.

Xylitol is a natural substance that manages to add sweetness to your diet and, at the same time, fights decay and damage to the tooth enamel. Xylitol contains about one-third fewer calories than sugar, yet it also has a number of dental benefits. It sounds like a winner already.

Xylitol is also safe for diabetics who have a need to monitor their blood sugar levels. Many of the well-known sugar substitutes on the market have been linked to other health concerns, such as cancer; however, despite the risk, people still choose to use these products because of the decreased number of calories contained in them when compared to pure sugar. Weight-conscious individuals would benefit from the use of xylitol simply because it offers one-third less calories than traditional table sugar. It has the look and feel of sugar without all the negative attributes of sugar and it healthier for the teeth!

Any time a new product such as this is introduced to the public, it takes time for people to accept it and the benefits it can provide. People are slow to be convinced when they are used to traditional sugar and leading sugar substitutes. Getting the word out to the consumer is half the battle. People can only choose a newer, better product if the information is provided to them.

Xylitol may have a big mountain to climb in getting the public to realize its benefits, but when they do, its use will likely skyrocket. After all, who wouldn't be interested in a product with both dental and calorie-reducing benefits? In our diet-conscious world, products such as this are in demand, especially if the risks of other diseases are lowered.

Plus, that next dental office visit can be a lot more relaxing once you switch to foods that use xylitol and start enjoying the fact that it's better for you on a number of levels.