Xylitol

[little monkey]

I'm clearing out my cupboards at the moment!

I have some jars of Xylitol - good quality stuff, made from organic birchwood. I don't know whether to keep and use them, or give them away.

There are so many reports on the Internet claiming it remineralises your teeth, can prevent/heal cavities, discourages candida, and doesn't raise your blood sugar.

http://www.laleva.cc/food/xylitol.html
"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"

Is xylitol as healthy as claimed, or can it actually be harmful to health? Instinctively I feel I don't trust it, because it is processed, and because it's relatively new for human consumption (but then so is stevia I guess) ...

[shelley]

No way to know for sure. Until something new - natural or lab-made - has been in use for 5-10 years there won't be enough data for sure either way. So you consider the source of the data that says it's okay, be on the lookout for naysayers, and take your chances if it really makes your life easier.