Your Health: Sugar Substitute Offers Sweet Taste -- Minus the Bitter Consequences
Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.
America's insatiable sweet tooth is taking a super-sized bite out of our nation's health. Over the past three decades, annual per capita sugar consumption in the United States has risen from 113 pounds to nearly 150 pounds. During the same time frame, obesity and diabetes have become national epidemics. For folks who want to enjoy the sweet taste of sugar without suffering the bitter consequences, an alternative sweetener known as xylitol is an excellent choice. Discovered in 1891 by a German chemist, the substance became popular in Europe during World War II, when sugar was in short supply. Since the 1960s, xylitol has been used as an FDA-approved nutritive sweetener in diabetic diets. These days, it can be found in a few brands of baked goods and beverages, as well as in chewing gum, mints and toothpaste. Xylitol isn't a true sugar, but rather a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in many plants, including some fruits and vegetables. Although it was originally derived from birch trees, corn is now the primary source of commercially produced xylitol. In its pure form, the sweetener is a white crystalline substance that looks, tastes and measures like sugar. Unlike table sugar, which has 15 calories per teaspoon, xylitol provides just 9.6 calories per teaspoon. Because the human body metabolizes sugar alcohols in a unique manner, xylitol doesn't produce spikes in blood glucose and insulin levels that commonly occur following the consumption of regular sugar. While sugar is known wreak havoc on dental health, xylitol has the opposite effect. The natural sweetener has been shown to prevent tooth decay by inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria primarily responsible for causing dental cavities. Over the past two decades, a number of studies have shown that when children chew xylitol-sweetened gum three times daily following meals, they develop significantly fewer cavities than those chewing sugar-sweetened gum. Similar findings have been observed in adults. In addition to deterring cavity formation, the use of xylitol-containing gums and mints can help control bad breath, reduce the frequency and severity of mouth sores, and improve oral health in individuals with periodontal disease. Not only does xylitol inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth, it also puts a damper on the proliferation of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacterial source of most middle ear infections in children. In a study published in British Medical Journal, researchers examined the effects of the sweetener in more than 300 children in daycare settings, most of whom had suffered repeated ear infections. Half of the children chewed xylitol-containing gum five times a day, while the other half chewed regular sugar-sweetened gum. During the two-month study, 21 percent of the children chewing regular gum had one or more ear infections, while only 12 percent of the children chewing xylitol-sweetened gum experienced one or more ear infections. Preliminary research suggests that the sugar alcohol also may play a role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. When fed to aging rats, xylitol not only reduced bone loss, it actually increased bone mineral density by an average of 10 percent. Scientists speculate that the sweetener may enhance bone health by boosting the body's absorption of calcium. While the optimal dose necessary to promote bone health is still unknown, a daily intake of six grams of xylitol has been shown to help prevent dental cavities. For best results, two pieces of gum, each containing one gram of xylitol, should be chewed three times a day following meals. To reduce the risk of middle ear infections, children should chew two pieces of the gum five times daily. In these amounts, xylitol is generally well tolerated by both children and adults. At doses greater than 30 grams a day, however, the sugar alcohol may have a laxative effect. While xylitol is perfectly safe for humans, canines can't properly metabolize the sugar alcohol. Dogs ingesting the substance can experience a life-threatening drop in blood sugar levels, necessitating immediate veterinary attention. Like regular sugar, xylitol can be purchased in bulk, as well as in single-serving packages. Unlike sugar, xylitol isn't widely available in supermarkets: it's more likely to be found at stores and shops that sell natural foods and nutritional supplements. Xylitol is more expensive than regular table sugar, but if you're looking for a reduced-calorie sweetener with a few bonus benefits, it's an excellent investment. ======== Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H., is a family physician in Kingsport, Tenn., and author of "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Web site is http://www.rallieonhealth.com/. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at http://www.creators.com/.
Copyright 2007 Creators Syndicate Inc.
Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.
America's insatiable sweet tooth is taking a super-sized bite out of our nation's health. Over the past three decades, annual per capita sugar consumption in the United States has risen from 113 pounds to nearly 150 pounds. During the same time frame, obesity and diabetes have become national epidemics. For folks who want to enjoy the sweet taste of sugar without suffering the bitter consequences, an alternative sweetener known as xylitol is an excellent choice. Discovered in 1891 by a German chemist, the substance became popular in Europe during World War II, when sugar was in short supply. Since the 1960s, xylitol has been used as an FDA-approved nutritive sweetener in diabetic diets. These days, it can be found in a few brands of baked goods and beverages, as well as in chewing gum, mints and toothpaste. Xylitol isn't a true sugar, but rather a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in many plants, including some fruits and vegetables. Although it was originally derived from birch trees, corn is now the primary source of commercially produced xylitol. In its pure form, the sweetener is a white crystalline substance that looks, tastes and measures like sugar. Unlike table sugar, which has 15 calories per teaspoon, xylitol provides just 9.6 calories per teaspoon. Because the human body metabolizes sugar alcohols in a unique manner, xylitol doesn't produce spikes in blood glucose and insulin levels that commonly occur following the consumption of regular sugar. While sugar is known wreak havoc on dental health, xylitol has the opposite effect. The natural sweetener has been shown to prevent tooth decay by inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria primarily responsible for causing dental cavities. Over the past two decades, a number of studies have shown that when children chew xylitol-sweetened gum three times daily following meals, they develop significantly fewer cavities than those chewing sugar-sweetened gum. Similar findings have been observed in adults. In addition to deterring cavity formation, the use of xylitol-containing gums and mints can help control bad breath, reduce the frequency and severity of mouth sores, and improve oral health in individuals with periodontal disease. Not only does xylitol inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth, it also puts a damper on the proliferation of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacterial source of most middle ear infections in children. In a study published in British Medical Journal, researchers examined the effects of the sweetener in more than 300 children in daycare settings, most of whom had suffered repeated ear infections. Half of the children chewed xylitol-containing gum five times a day, while the other half chewed regular sugar-sweetened gum. During the two-month study, 21 percent of the children chewing regular gum had one or more ear infections, while only 12 percent of the children chewing xylitol-sweetened gum experienced one or more ear infections. Preliminary research suggests that the sugar alcohol also may play a role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. When fed to aging rats, xylitol not only reduced bone loss, it actually increased bone mineral density by an average of 10 percent. Scientists speculate that the sweetener may enhance bone health by boosting the body's absorption of calcium. While the optimal dose necessary to promote bone health is still unknown, a daily intake of six grams of xylitol has been shown to help prevent dental cavities. For best results, two pieces of gum, each containing one gram of xylitol, should be chewed three times a day following meals. To reduce the risk of middle ear infections, children should chew two pieces of the gum five times daily. In these amounts, xylitol is generally well tolerated by both children and adults. At doses greater than 30 grams a day, however, the sugar alcohol may have a laxative effect. While xylitol is perfectly safe for humans, canines can't properly metabolize the sugar alcohol. Dogs ingesting the substance can experience a life-threatening drop in blood sugar levels, necessitating immediate veterinary attention. Like regular sugar, xylitol can be purchased in bulk, as well as in single-serving packages. Unlike sugar, xylitol isn't widely available in supermarkets: it's more likely to be found at stores and shops that sell natural foods and nutritional supplements. Xylitol is more expensive than regular table sugar, but if you're looking for a reduced-calorie sweetener with a few bonus benefits, it's an excellent investment. ======== Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H., is a family physician in Kingsport, Tenn., and author of "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Web site is http://www.rallieonhealth.com/. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at http://www.creators.com/.
Copyright 2007 Creators Syndicate Inc.
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