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Leading Edge
Xylitol
Xylitol is a natural
carbohydrate which occurs freely in certain fruits and in the metabolism
of humans (we make up to 15g a day in our bodies). Xylitol has recently
received positive support in the Journal Of The American Dental
Association. "Xylitol is an effective preventive agent against
dental caries... Consumption of xylitol containing chewing gum has been
demonstrated to reduce caries in Finnish teenagers by 30-60%. Studies
conducted in Canada, Thailand, Polynesia, and Belize have shown similar
results." A study conducted at Harvard School of Dental Medicine
concluded that: "Xylitol can significantly decrease the incidence of
dental caries."
The oral and metabolic
safety of xylitol has been assessed by various international and
national regulatory authorities. For example, in 1983 the Joint Expert
Committee on Food Additives (JEFCA) of two United Nations agencies (FAO
and WHO) allocated an "Acceptable Daily Intake" (ADI) definition "not
specified" for xylitol. This indicates that no special consumption
limits were needed for xylitol. In detail, JECFA recommended “An
unlimited ADI based on the safety of xylitol.” This type of
specification reflects the safest category this Committee can
place a food into.
As a
further proof of xylitol's metabolic safety, one should mention the
traditional use of xylitol as a source of energy in infusion therapy.
This practice is based, among other things, on the non-involvement of
insulin in the initial utilization by the human cells of xylitol, and on
the ability of xylitol to exploit several metabolic "entrancies" into
the liver, compared, for instance, with sorbitol which biochemically
speaking has only one "entry point" into the metabolism.
Xylitol has long been
used as a sweetener in the diabetic diet; diabetic patients have been
found to consume up to 70g xylitol per day without any adverse reactions
whatsoever. These xylitol levels by far exceed those recommended for
dental purposes.
One of xylitol's
versatile benefits is its ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria that
cause middle-ear infections in young children. In two recent studies
involving over 1,000 children, xylitol-flavoured chewing gum was found
to reduce the incidence of middle-ear infections by 40%, significantly
decreasing ongoing middle-ear complications and the need for
antibiotics.
Regularly washing the
nose with a spray containing xylitol decreases the number of harmful
bacteria and stimulates normal defensive washing of this area. A clean
nose reduces problems with allergies and asthma that originate from
nasal irritants and pollutants. Cooled boiled water with some xylitol
dissolved in it, is effective to be sprayed into the nose for this
purpose.
Current research shows
how bacteria attach to cells in the body, causing infection. Xylitol is
known to be able to interfere with this binding, blocking the attachment
of the major infection-causing bacteria that live in the nose. Dr. Lon
Jones, a physician in Plainsview, Texas, reported that the use of a
xylitol nasal spray in his practice prevented 93% of ear infections and
resulted in comparable reductions in sinus infections, allergies, and
asthma. Xylitol has been shown to be effective in inhibiting Candida
albicans, a serious systemic yeast problem, and other harmful gut
bacteria including H. pylori, implicated in periodontal disease, bad
breath, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and even stomach cancer.
In an unprecedented
action, Finnish researchers have made bold recommendations for human
application of their studies regarding xylitol’s ability to build bone.
They suggested that an effective human dose would be about 40 grams
daily. The scientists speculated that xylitol's bone density-enhancing
properties are due to its ability to promote intestinal absorption of
calcium. Including xylitol in one's diet is certainly an enjoyable way
to reap the benefits of greater bone density, along with other health
benefits.
Xylitol has been
demonstrated in repeated clinical studies to be very slowly metabolised.
In fact, on the glycemic index, which measures how quickly foods enter
the bloodstream, sugar is rated at 100 and xylitol at just seven!
Xylitol is a natural insulin stabilizer, therefore it causes none of the
abrupt rises and falls that occur with sugar. In fact, it actually helps
in stopping sugar and carbohydrate cravings. Foods sweetened with
xylitol will not raise insulin levels. This makes it a perfect sweetener
for people with diabetes as well as those wanting to lose weight. There
is a growing consensus amongst anti-aging researchers that maintaining
low insulin levels is a key to a successful anti-aging program. |
