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| Monday, March 20, 2006 |
| Xylitol: key to sugarless utopia? |
Another Finnish contribution that I think makes the world beautiful. And now....my soapbox.
About xylitol
During World War II, Finland was suffering from an acute sugar shortage. With no domestic supply of sugar, the Finns searched for an alternative. It was then that the Finnish scientists rediscovered xylitol, a low-calorie sugar made from birch bark. It had, in fact, been known to the world of organic chemistry since it was first manufactured in 1891 by a German chemist.
By 1930, xylitol had been purified, but it wasn't until World War II that the sugar shortages forced researchers to look at alternative sweeteners. It was only when xylitol was stabilized that it became a viable sweetener in foods. It was also during this time that researchers discovered xylitol's insulin-independent nature. (It metabolizes in the body without using insulin.)
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1963, xylitol has no known toxic levels. The only discomfort that some sensitive people may notice initially when. taking large amounts is mild diarrhea or slight cramping. Since the body makes xylitol daily, as well as the enzymes to break it down, any discomfort usually disappears within a few days as the body's enzymatic activity adjusts to a higher intake.
Xylitol has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar and is slowly absorbed and metabolised, resulting in very negligible changes in insulin. About one-third of the xylitol that is consumed is absorbed in the liver. The other two-thirds travels to the intestinal tract, where it is broken down by gut bacteria into short-chain fatty acids.
Xylitol, also called wood sugar or birch sugar, is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that is used as a sugar substitute. It can be extracted from birch, raspberries, plums, and corn. Although xylitol tastes and looks exactly like sugar, that is where the similarities end. Xylitol is really sugar's mirror image. While sugar wreaks havoc on the body, xylitol heals and repairs. It also builds immunity, protects against chronic degenerative disease, and has anti-aging benefits. Xylitol is considered a five-carbon sugar, which means it is an antimicrobial, preventing the growth of bacteria. While sugar is acid-forming, xylitol is alkaline enhancing. All other forms of sugar, including sorbitol, another popular alternative sweetener, are six-carbon sugars, which feed dangerous bacteria and fungi.
Benefits of Xylitol for women of all ages
Another exciting benefit from xylitol is its role in reversing bone loss. Studies in Finland found that xylitol maintained and increased bone density in rats that had their ovaries removed. Another study showed that xylitol was effective in decreasing age-related bone loss in older male rats by 10%.
In an unprecedented action, the Finnish researchers made bold recommendations for human application of their studies. 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.
Using xylitol instead of sugar, as well as reducing intake of high-glycemic, refined carbohydrate foods, helps to lower the risk of ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, PMS, hot flashes, weight gain, and depression.
Downsides:
It interferes with yeast micro-organisms, so it's not good for making bread. Xylitol also does not crystallize as much as sugar, so it isn't that great for making certain candies like peanut brittle. And the amount needed to sweeten some drinks like lemonade can be enough to have a mild laxative effect on people until their bodies adjust.
My commentary:
Wouldn't you think a sweetener with so many health benefits that can be derived from corncobs (a very renewable and plentiful resource) would be encouraged in our food products considering the vast array of health issues and rate of obesity in the US? So would I. And being in a world where there are products chocked full of refined sugar is very frustrating to me. I really do like sweets, I just can't have them.
And it's more frustrating when someone makes treats at church like a tasty carrot cake or brownies and I must relegate myself to a carrot stick (not that carrot sticks are evil, I just want a brownie now and then and feel left out) or when someone brings cookies to work and offers them around and then says "sorry, I guess you can't have these can you?". The world forgets about my no-sugar world until it hits them square in the face and makes them feel badly about not being more conscious when baking treats.
I also feel left out at the store. I miss a lot of things I could once eat as a treat. I miss my chocolates (though I have found a few that do not have refined sugars in them that I will occassionally purchase and eat in very small bits as they are many times more expensive than those sweetened with refined sugars) and pumpkin pie and chocolate milk and pudding, well and really a whole lot of yummy sweets.
So I really would like to see a sugar alternative like xylitol make it big in the US. Not just for the sake of my getting to eat some sweets again without loads of work baking and modifying recipies, but for the sake of all the overweight kids in the US who are learning at a young age to junk food out at the detriment of their adult health.
Sorry to all of you who were hoping for a real post, but it's been a slow week and I got really fired up learning about this and also really ticked at the huge sugary monstrosity called "snacks" at the Porch this past Sunday. Any of you reading this who ever bring said "snacks", please keep in mind those of us who either cannot have refined sugars (for medical or personal reasons) or those who would like healthy options for the themselves and the kids when choosing what to bring.
Lately, it's been a table full of stuff I can't eat and I sit with my tummy rumbling cause I've come straight from work and won't get to eat until after the gathering. And I know that many many of the parents at the Porch wish for healthy snacks and reduced sugar intakes for their kids (some adults adhere to this kind of diet for themselves too and have made their opinions known to me.) So cut it out with all the sugary junk already!
End soapbox.
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posted by Jen @ 11:09 PM   |
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| 3 Comments: |
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hey.. your soapbox is enlightening ... anytime you want to hop up there, go for it.
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Weird. My comment just disappeared. Hope I'm not double-posting it.
Anyway, I second Scott's comment! I think about this kind of stuff ALL the time...yes, I probably have OCD. People - particularly Christians - would do well to take better care of our bodies! I've felt convicted about the healthfulness of stuff we would offer at church - hence, bluer always had the 'fruit basket' and herbal teas as an option!
Keep preachin' it, sis!
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Do you have any sort of footnote/sourcing on the above info?
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hey.. your soapbox is enlightening ... anytime you want to hop up there, go for it.