What health benefits does xylitol have?
Xylitol consumption has a number of health benefits, both dental and medical. Teeth are protected not only because plaque accumulation and tooth decay are diminished (6-10), but because xylitol remineralises and strengthens tooth enamel (11-13). In addition, xylitol helps keep the intestines healthy because friendly bacteria which metabolise xylitol can flourish. In Europe in the 1970’s, xylitol was referred to as “glucose with delay” because of its slow and steady conversion to glucose, without impacting on insulin, and hence its use in parenteral nutrition.