Natural sweetener of plant origin, it has a very similar taste and sweetness to sugar . Xylitol, also called birch sugar – is present in many plants, fruits as well as the human body produces some very small amount. Xylitol provides about the same sweetness as sugar with a slight cool sensation. Despite the great similarities of the two, xylitol clearly has a number of health benefits. Unlike sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, xylitol does not cause tooth decay. It has a low glycaemic index (GI = 7). Unlike sugar, xylitol is absorbed slowly and does not require an immediate insulin response from the body in order to be metabolised. It has almost 40% fewer calories than sugar i.e. 2.4 calories per gram, compared to 4 calories of sugar. Usage: just like sugar.
