Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 In a message dated 7/28/04 2:07:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time, heidis@... writes: > I'm just naturally leery of anything that hasn't been used *much* > that suddenly becomes popular, esp. in a refined form. I doubt that > chewing xylitol gum once or twice a day is an issue, and it might make > a great sweetener. But I kinda doubt any large group of people has > ever used it for a long time in any quantity, and with a lot of people > gushing over how great it is, there will soon be a whole lot of it > marketed! Right. And the " good versus evil " model that they associate with " sucrose versus xylitol " seems to imply they envision humans replacing all of their carbohydrates with xylitol. That's a bit different from sucking on birch bark or having moderate amounts produced in your body. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2004 Report Share Posted July 31, 2004 > Right, but soybeans and fructose have been around even longer! The thing is, > they do these studies that show XYZ is good, then someone > sees a profit, and pretty soon XYZ is in EVERYTHING. I mean, > eating tofu on your rice didn't seem to hurt the Asians, but now > there is soy milk, soy ice cream, soy isoflavones in capsules. The The first time I heard about the ill effects of soybeans was the study on dementia done on Asians in Hawaii who ate tofu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Penny, If your sinuses are burning you may want to try Ponaris, It is an oil that you put in you nose with an eye dropper. Very soothing. Also Ayr has a gel that is supposed to be healing to irritated nasal membranes but I prefer Ponaris. If you can't find it in a store you can google it and buy it online. It was recommended by my ENT. I also find it helpful as it has a kind of soaking action and will help flush out any crusts that build up. I am very pleased with the results of my sinus surgery which I had in July. I am feeling better. The culture grew psuedomis, Apergilllus, staph and one other bug I can't remember. I am using compounded drops of Gentimycin and an antifungal (can't think of the name) it is late and my brain has gone to bed even tho my body is still sitting here typing. LOL Good luck with that burning. I have experienced it and it is not fun. Marie --- Penny Houle <pennyhoule@...> wrote: > Ah, silly me. I forgot that I use Breathe Ease in my > nasal rinse, for the saline, but it also contains > xylitol. So I have been using it. I just added some > extra, with the nasal inhaler, because it's soothing > on the tissues and tastes sweet, and because this > constant nasal rinsing is starting to BURN!... not > only my nose, but my ears and my eyes! Sheesh. It's > like a big wasabi rush, but a lot longer which makes > it way less fun. ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the New .com (http://www./preview) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Penny: Can't tell from your post if you like Xylitol or dislike it. If you're looking to buy it- Under $10.00 here http://www.uckele.com/ezecommerce.cfm? fuseaction=productdetail & productid=212 Barb > > Ah, silly me. I forgot that I use Breathe Ease in my nasal rinse, for the saline, but it also contains xylitol. So I have been using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Thanks Marie, for the tip. I'll look it up. Was it amphotercin B in the nasal drops? I'm glad you're doing better. I think my problem is that my sinus disease was never really caused by a lack of drainage (openings too small) as they claimed. I think it's a result of my jaw infection feeding into my sinuses, repopulating them, and now that the openings are bigger, they're more easily infected somehow. Because I never had these problems before the surgery. Should have paid for cosmetic surgery, would have gotten more out of it. LOL! pennyMarie Mayberry <msmabrry@...> wrote: Penny, If your sinuses are burning you may want to tryPonaris, It is an oil that you put in you nose with aneye dropper. Very soothing. Also Ayr has a gel that issupposed to be healing to irritated nasal membranesbut I prefer Ponaris. If you can't find it in a storeyou can google it and buy it online. It wasrecommended by my ENT. I also find it helpful as ithas a kind of soaking action and will help flush outany crusts that build up. I am very pleased with the results of my sinus surgerywhich I had in July. I am feeling better. The culturegrew psuedomis, Apergilllus, staph and one other bug Ican't remember. I am using compounded drops ofGentimycin and an antifungal (can't think of the name)it is late and my brain has gone to bed even tho mybody is still sitting here typing. LOLGood luck with that burning. I have experienced it andit is not fun. Marie--- Penny Houle <pennyhoule > wrote:> Ah, silly me. I forgot that I use Breathe Ease in my> nasal rinse, for the saline, but it also contains> xylitol. So I have been using it. I just added some> extra, with the nasal inhaler, because it's soothing> on the tissues and tastes sweet, and because this> constant nasal rinsing is starting to BURN!... not> only my nose, but my ears and my eyes! Sheesh. It's> like a big wasabi rush, but a lot longer which makes> it way less fun.__________________________________________________________Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the New .com (http://www./preview) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Yeah, that's a great price. I can't tell if I like it or not either. :-) I like the concept and it does feel better in my nose than most things. :-) I also like the idea of xylitol gum for helping with the teeth. Thing is, I don't much enjoy chewing gum, but while I had it, I chewed it and more or less enjoyed it. :-) pennyBarb Peck <egroups1bp@...> wrote: Penny:Can't tell from your post if you like Xylitol or dislike it.If you're looking to buy it- Under $10.00 herehttp://www.uckele.com/ezecommerce.cfm?fuseaction=productdetail & productid=212Barb>> Ah, silly me. I forgot that I use Breathe Ease in my nasal rinse, for the saline, but it also contains xylitol. So I have been using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 NO it was Ketaconazol. I don't know if that is spelled right. I hope you can get some resolve soon. My sinuses have been infected with ugly junk since 1987 when I had the first surgery of 5. This is the best results I have had and I think it is because of using the gentimycin/Ketaconazol nasal inhaler. It is very important that you stay on this. I also think I am better because I have been on multible antibiotic therapy (oral) for 3 years. I am lucky to have found a very progressive doc who keeps tweeking my protocol to get it just right. It hasn't been fun and games I have horrific die of reactions but no so bad anymore. Marie --- Penny Houle <pennyhoule@...> wrote: > Thanks Marie, for the tip. I'll look it up. > > Was it amphotercin B in the nasal drops? I'm glad > you're doing better. I think my problem is that my > sinus disease was never really caused by a lack of > drainage (openings too small) as they claimed. I > think it's a result of my jaw infection feeding into > my sinuses, repopulating them, and now that the > openings are bigger, they're more easily infected > somehow. Because I never had these problems before > the surgery. Should have paid for cosmetic surgery, > would have gotten more out of it. LOL! > > penny > > Marie Mayberry <msmabrry@...> wrote: > Penny, > If your sinuses are burning you may want to try > Ponaris, It is an oil that you put in you nose with > an > eye dropper. Very soothing. Also Ayr has a gel that > is > supposed to be healing to irritated nasal membranes > but I prefer Ponaris. If you can't find it in a > store > you can google it and buy it online. It was > recommended by my ENT. I also find it helpful as it > has a kind of soaking action and will help flush out > any crusts that build up. > > I am very pleased with the results of my sinus > surgery > which I had in July. I am feeling better. The > culture > grew psuedomis, Apergilllus, staph and one other bug > I > can't remember. I am using compounded drops of > Gentimycin and an antifungal (can't think of the > name) > it is late and my brain has gone to bed even tho my > body is still sitting here typing. LOL > > Good luck with that burning. I have experienced it > and > it is not fun. > > Marie > > --- Penny Houle <pennyhoule@...> wrote: > > > Ah, silly me. I forgot that I use Breathe Ease in > my > > nasal rinse, for the saline, but it also contains > > xylitol. So I have been using it. I just added > some > > extra, with the nasal inhaler, because it's > soothing > > on the tissues and tastes sweet, and because this > > constant nasal rinsing is starting to BURN!... not > > only my nose, but my ears and my eyes! Sheesh. > It's > > like a big wasabi rush, but a lot longer which > makes > > it way less fun. > > __________________________________________________________ > Get your email and see which of your friends are > online - Right on the New .com > (http://www./preview) > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Access over 1 million songs - Music Unlimited (http://music./unlimited) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 I'm avoiding sugar and want to use xylitol. I've been buying a lot of things through Azure Standard. The price in their fall catalog was about $12 for five pounds but when I went to purchase it, it had gone up to over $33. It was made from corn cobs. Anyone know where I can get xylitol at a good price? Does it need to be made of corn cobs? Thanks from Sheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 Sheryl, why not try agave or raw honey? Here is a link that may help you out. http://www.worldhealthdepot.com/index.mhtml?sp=1 & category=product & page=product_search_results & search_text=xylitol & OVRAW=xylitol & OVKEY=xylitol & OVMTC=standardskmackie <skmackie@...> wrote: I'm avoiding sugar and want to use xylitol. I've been buying a lot of things through Azure Standard. The price in their fall catalog was about $12 for five pounds but when I went to purchase it, it had gone up to over $33. It was made from corn cobs. Anyone know where I can get xylitol at a good price? Does it need to be made of corn cobs?Thanks from Sheryl Suzi What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. health/ http://suziesgoats.wholefoodfarmacy.com/ http://360./suziesgoats Need Mail bonding?Go to the Q&A for great tips from Answers users. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Xylitol is recommended for diabetics, and I occasionally use it, as I don't do sugar. I tend to use real maple syrup. There is a new agave syrup that I am looking for also. I don't do much of any of these, just a touch now and then when something is just too, too sour. When I drink juice, I dilute it with water, because all juices have natural sugars. I tend to eat whole fruit instead of drinking juices, for the most part. There is even a Xylitol nose spray that helps clear out sinuses, called X-lear and I tried it, it does help. Lynda >Has anyone here tried Xylitol? It is a natural >sugar replacement that is touted as being >healthy. My bladder is bothering me so I bought >some natural unsweetened cranberry juice. It’s >a bit too tart for me so I added some xylitol to >it. Since I had never tasted xylitol before, I >had no idea what to expect. To my surprise, it >tastes very good! It is sweet but not overly >sweet. It tastes better than sugar to me. Here >is a bit of information on xylitol. In baking, >you can substitute it one for one for sugar. My >new MD is the one who suggested to me that I use >xylitol for its health benefits. > >Kenda > >Xylitol - All Natural Sweetener >Xylitol - Our Sweet Salvation? > > > >Xylitol is not only a safe, natural sweetener >without the bad side-effects of sugar and >artificial substitutes, it's also good for your >teeth, stabilises insulin and hormone levels and promotes good health. > > > >Americans have a mighty hankering for sugar. It >seems that we just can't get enough of the >stuff. On average, a half a cup of sugar is >consumed per person every day. It is estimated >that the average American eats, drinks, slurps, >stirs and sprinkles about 150 pounds of it >annually. Never in modern history has a culture consumed so much sugar. > >Sugar truly does deserve its reputation as a > " white poison " . Thinking of sugar as a food is >really a stretch of the imagination, because it >is more a chemical that is difficult for our >bodies to utilise and digest. Humans were really >not designed to eat large amounts of sugar in >whatever form it may take: white and brown, corn >syrup, sucrose, dextrose, glucose, fructose, >lactose, maltose, barley malt, honey, rice syrup >and maple syrup. Sugar is also highly seductive, >acting like an addictive drug that lures even >the most well-intentioned person back into its sweet clutches. > >According to Chinese wisdom, sweetness is one of >the flavours necessary for maintaining balance >in the body. But regularly eating large amounts >of sugar will cause serious harm. Sugar can >cause hypoglycaemia and weight gain, leading to >diabetes and obesity in both children and >adults. It leaches the body of vital minerals >and vitamins. It raises blood pressure, >triglycerides and the bad cholesterol (LDL), >increasing the risk of heart disease. It causes >tooth decay and periodontal disease, which leads >to tooth loss and systemic infections. It makes >it difficult for a child's brain to learn, >resulting in a lack of concentration. Both >children and adults exhibit disruptive >behaviour, learning disorders and forgetfulness >from sugar consumption. It initiates auto-immune >and immune deficiency disorders such as >arthritis, allergies and asthma. It also upsets >hormonal imbalance and supports the growth of cancer cells. > >So what are we to do? Will our sugar-cravings >always hold us hostage, or is there really a way >to lick the sugar habit successfully? > > > >Xylitol to the Rescue! > >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 >re-discovered 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 stabilised that it became a viable sweetener >in foods. It was also during this time that >researchers discovered xylitol's >insulin-independent nature (it metabolises in the body without using insulin). > >By the 1960s, xylitol was being used in Germany, >Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Japan as a >preferred sweetener in diabetic diets and as an >energy source for infusion therapy in patients >with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin >resistance. Since then, many other countries >including Italy and China have been producing >xylitol for use in their domestic markets--and >with remarkable health benefits. It has been >relatively unknown in the USA and Australia, >primarily because cheap supplies of cane sugar >made the more expensive xylitol less economically viable. > >Xylitol is a natural substance found in fibrous >vegetables and fruit, as well as in corn cobs >and various hardwood trees like birch. It is a >natural, intermediate product which regularly >occurs in the glucose metabolism of man and >other animals as well as in the metabolism of >several plants and micro-organisms. Xylitol is >produced naturally in our bodies; in fact, we >make up to 15 grams daily during normal metabolism. > >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-ageing 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. > >Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration >(FDA) in 1963, xylitol has no known toxic >levels. The only discomfort that some sensitive >people may notice initially when taking large >amounts is mild diarrhoea 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 per cent fewer calories and 75 >per cent 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 looks, feels and tastes exactly like >sugar and leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. It is >available in many forms. In its crystalline >form, it can replace sugar in cooking, baking or >as a sweetener for beverages. It is also >included as an ingredient in chewing gum, mints and nasal spray. > > > >Xylitol and Oral Health > >Tooth decay and gum disease are serious >problems. According to the American Dental >Association, 75 per cent of American adults over >the age of 35 suffer from some form of >periodontal disease.1 Needless to say, diet >plays a major role in dental heath. When there >is an excess of sugar in the diet, this weakens >the immune system and creates an acidic >environment; thus oral health suffers. The mouth >is home to over 400 strains of bacteria. Most of >these are benign, but when sugar enters the >scene it feeds the destructive strains, allowing them to proliferate. > >Periodontal disease is basically caused by >bacteria. These deposits permit the growth of >bacteria that cause inflammation of the gums. >The bacteria also release minute amounts of >toxins that break down gum tissue, thereby >helping the infection to progress. Plaque is an >invisible, sticky film of saliva and food >residue that constantly forms on the teeth. >Ongoing low-grade bacterial infection also burdens the immune system. > >Bacteria help to create plaque and they also >thrive within it. Unless removed, plaque formed >along the gum line can lead to gum disease. When >left untreated, plaque at or below the gum line >hardens into tartar. Periodontal disease takes >two forms: simple gum inflammation, called >gingivitis; and a more severe gum infection, >called periodontitis, which may lead to tooth loss and receding gums. > >Gingivitis results from the build-up of plaque >and tartar which irritate the gum or periodontal >tissue. The more advanced state of gum disease, >periodontitis, occurs when inflammation of the >gums is accompanied by bone and ligament >destruction. Bleeding gums are usually the first >indication that gum disease is developing, but >obvious symptoms may not always be present. > >Gum infection can also lead to other serious >health problems. It doubles the risk of stroke, >triples the risk of heart attack, increases the >incidence of premature, low-weight babies and >also contributes to bronchitis, pneumonia and >emphysema. In fact, the same bacteria that cause >gum disease end up either directly or indirectly >infecting your heart and arteries. A study >conducted at the University of Minnesota in 1998 >found that rabbits injected with tooth plaque >developed blood clots which led to heart >disease.2 It seems that the bacteria first >attack the bones and gums in the mouth and then >enter the bloodstream through small cracks in the gums. > >Eating sugar causes tooth decay by creating a >highly acidic condition in the mouth. Acidity >strips tooth enamel of minerals, causing it to >weaken and making it more vulnerable to attack >by bacteria, leading to tooth decay or >demineralisation. Ordinarily, saliva bathes the >mouth with an alkaline solution that neutralises >all acidity and actually remineralises the >teeth. Saliva also washes away leftover bits of >food and helps the digestion process. But when >saliva turns acidic because of too many sweets, >bacteria in the mouth have a feeding frenzy. >These nasty bacteria, along with carbohydrate >waste, stick to the teeth and tongue and hold >the acid close to the teeth where it eats away >enamel. Virtually whatever food you ingest, the >remaining particles become food for >plaque-producing bacteria. Using xylitol helps >to raise plaque pH, thereby reducing the time >that teeth are exposed to damaging acids as well >as starving harmful bacteria of their food source. > >Xylitol is a dentist's dream. It reverses all >these destructive effects of sugar on oral >health. Xylitol is non-fermentable and therefore >cannot be converted to acids by oral bacteria, >thus it helps to restore a proper alkaline/acid >balance in the mouth. This alkaline environment >is inhospitable to all the destructive bacteria, >especially the worst variety, Streptococcus >mutans. It also inhibits plaque formation. > >Using xylitol right before bedtime, after >brushing and flossing, protects and heals the >teeth and gums. Unlike sugar, it can even be >left on the teeth overnight. With proper use, >xylitol actually stops the fermentation process >leading to tooth decay. Long-term use suppresses >the most harmful strains of oral bacteria, >making a long-lasting change in those bacterial >communities. Xylitol even has the ability to >enhance the mineralisation of the enamel. It is >most effective in treating small decay spots. >Although larger cavities won't go away, they can >harden and become less sensitive. > >Consistently using small amounts of xylitol >tends to increase protective factors in saliva. >Xylitol stimulates saliva flow and helps keep >salivary minerals in a useful form. Prolonged >xylitol use increases the buffering capacity and >protective factors in saliva. Increased saliva >production is especially important for people >suffering with a dry mouth due to illness, ageing or drug side-effects. > >Since the oral environment becomes less acidic >with continued xylitol use, it is advisable to >chew xylitol gum or suck a xylitol mint after >every meal or after eating sweet snacks. The >best news is that studies have shown that >xylitol's effect is long-lasting and possibly even permanent. > >Xylitol has recently received positive support >in the Journal of the American Dental >Association. " Xylitol is an effective preventive >agent against dental caries ... Consumption of >xylitol-containing chewing gum has been >demonstrated to reduce caries in Finnish >teenagers by 30 & endash;60 per cent. Studies >conducted in Canada, Thailand, Polynesia and >Belize have shown similar results... " 3 A study >conducted at Harvard School of Dental Medicine >concluded that " xylitol can significantly >decrease the incidence of dental caries " .4 > >Another unexpected benefit came from a Finnish >study which showed that children whose teeth are >colonised between 19 and 31 months of age by >Streptococcus mutans bacteria are more likely to >have a large number of cavities. Most children >acquire this bacteria from their mother's saliva >through food tasting, sharing cups and kissing. >The study showed a dramatic 70 per cent >reduction in tooth decay among children whose mothers chewed xylitol gum.5 > >Xylitol, however, isn't just for the young. In a >paper published in the Journal of the American >Geriatrics Society, researchers tested 111 >adults aged 60 and older over a 12-month period. >All were frail but healthy adults. In the study, >one group of volunteers chewed no gum, a second >chewed gum containing xylitol, and a third group >chewed gum containing both xylitol and an >antimicrobial. In the two groups receiving gum, >the participants chewed two pieces for 15 >minutes, two times per day. At the end of the >study, the researchers reported that the group >who received xylitol gum had substantially >lowered their risk of developing thrush, a >fungal or yeast infection that can cause mouth >soreness. (The group who received xylitol plus >the antimicrobial had equal benefits.) It had >also reduced their risk of developing angular >cheilitis, a condition in which sores develop in >the corners of the mouth. The researchers noted >that xylitol gum can provide a " real clinical >bene fit " to frail, elderly people.6 > > > >Xylitol and Ear, Nose and Throat Infections > >Recurring middle ear infections pose a great >health threat to children. Tubes are often >inserted into the ear drum in children with >these recurring infections to reduce the fluid >that is attempting to wash out the infection >from the middle ear. While this procedure >sometimes helps to reduce the frequency of >infections, it is also designed to help with hearing. > >Language, a critical part of learning, is built >by auditory input during the first two years of >life--the same period when ear infections are >most common. If this input is dampened by >infection or fluid in the middle ear during this >important period, it can cause learning >problems. One researcher demonstrated that even >when properly treated, recurrent middle ear >infections during the first two years result in >significant impairment in reading ability up to >the age of nine.7 Another study followed >children longer and showed significant learning >and social problems extending up to age eighteen.8 > >One of xylitol's versatile benefits is its >ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria that >cause middle ear infections in young children. >In two recent studies involving over 1,000 >children, xylitol-flavoured chewing gum was >found to reduce the incidence of middle ear >infections by 40 per cent, significantly >decreasing ongoing middle ear complications and the need for antibiotics. > >Regularly washing the nose with a spray >containing xylitol decreases the number of >harmful bacteria and stimulates normal defensive >washing of this area. A clean nose reduces >problems with allergies and asthma that >originate from nasal irritants and pollutants. >Current research shows how bacteria attach to >cells in the body, causing infection. Some >sugars like xylitol are known to be able to >interfere with this binding, blocking the >attachment of the major infection-causing >bacteria that live in the nose. Dr Lon , a >physician in Plainsview, Texas, reported that >the use of a xylitol nasal spray in his practice >prevented 93 per cent of ear infections and >resulted in comparable reductions in sinus infections, allergies and asthma.9 > >Xylitol has been shown to be effective in >inhibiting Candida albicans, a serious systemic >yeast problem, and other harmful gut bacteria >including H. pylori, implicated in periodontal >disease, bad breath, gastric and duodenal ulcers and even stomach cancer. > > > >Xylitol and Osteoporosis > >Another exciting benefit from xylitol is its >role in reversing bone loss. Studies in Finland >found that xylitol maintained bone density in >rats that had their ovaries removed. Without >ovaries, oestrogen levels plummeted and so did >the bone density in rats that were not given >xylitol. However, in the rats that had ovaries >removed and were given xylitol, bone density >actually increased.10 Another study showed that >xylitol was effective in decreasing age-related >bone loss in older male rats by 10 per cent.11 > >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. Including xylitol in >one's diet is certainly an enjoyable way to reap >the benefits of greater bone density, along with other health benefits. > > > >Xylitol and Insulin Resistance, Diabetes Hypertension and Hormonal Imbalances > >Consuming sugar and other refined carbohydrates >results in the rapid release of glucose, or >blood sugar. In response, the pancreas secretes >insulin to usher glucose into the cells, where >it is burned for energy. Excess glucose stresses >the system, and over time the cells become less >responsive to insulin. This condition, known as >insulin resistance, is a huge health problem and >it is estimated to affect half the American >population. Insulin resistance is associated >with abnormalities in cholesterol and >triglyceride levels, hypertension, increased >risk of heart disease and diabetes. > >The dramatic rise in type-2 diabetes since the >mid-1900s directly coincides with our increased >consumption of sugar. One long-term study of >more than 65,000 women demonstrated that a >high-sugar, low-fibre diet increased the risk of >type-2 diabetes by 250 per cent. Another recent >study found that excessive intake of sugar was >the single most important dietary risk factor >for heart disease in women and for men. It has >been estimated that sugar intake may account for >more than 150,000 premature deaths from heart >disease in the United States each year.12 > >Xylitol has been demonstrated in repeated >clinical studies to be very slowly metabolised. >In fact, on the glycaemic index, which measures >how quickly foods enter the bloodstream, sugar >is rated at 100 and xylitol at just seven! >Xylitol is a natural insulin stabiliser, >therefore it causes none of the abrupt rises and >falls that occur with sugar. In fact, it >actually helps in stopping sugar and >carbohydrate cravings. Foods sweetened with >xylitol will not raise insulin levels. This >makes it a perfect sweetener for people with >diabetes as well as those wanting to lose >weight. There is a growing consensus amongst >anti-ageing researchers that maintaining low >insulin levels is a key to a successful anti-ageing program. > >Insulin resistance also plays a significant role >in hormonal imbalances, including those that >lead to breast cancer. High insulin levels >increase the production of oestrogens, leading >to an oestrogen-dominant condition, and also >interfere with healthy ovarian function. Insulin >resistance is a major cause of a growing >hormonal problem called polycystic ovarian >syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes the ovaries to >become anovulatory, which means that the normal >cyclic production of oestrogen followed by >progesterone either ceases or becomes >dysfunctional. Insulin stimulates the ovaries to >produce predominantly male hormones, which, in >combination with higher insulin and glucose >levels, increase weight-gain around the waist--a >body type that is a risk factor for breast >cancer. Signs that the body is being exposed to >higher levels of the male hormones include acne, >loss of head hair and an increase in body hair. >Lowering insulin levels is crucial for not only >treating PCOS but also resolvi ng most other >hormonal imbalances, including those leading to breast cancer.13 > >Dr Lee, author of What Your Doctor May Not >Tell You About Breast Cancer, explains the >connection between insulin resistance and breast cancer: > " Overeating junk food makes you fat. Increased >body fat and lack of exercise lead to insulin >resistance. Insulin resistance leads to further >craving of sugary carbohydrates to generate >energy for the body. More insulin is released in >response to increased carbohydrate intake, >leading to more weight gain. More fat leads to >more estrogens, which, in turn, lead to earlier >breast development and menstruation. Earlier >onset of menstruation leads to more ovulatory >cycles and a greater lifetime exposure to >oestrogens without adequate progesterone. A >greater lifetime exposure to estrogens increases breast cancer risk. > > " Simultaneously, increased consumption of simple >carbohydrates, coupled with insulin resistance, >leads to polycystic ovaries and lack of >ovulation during menstrual cycles, resulting in >excess production of androgens and estrogens, >along with inadequate production of >progesterone. Excessive estrogen production in >the absence of progesterone production leads to >estrogen dominance and increased breast cancer >risk. Use of contraceptive hormones increases >insulin resistance, exacerbating all the above problems. " 14 > >Using xylitol instead of sugar as well as >reducing intake of high-glycaemic, refined >carbohydrate foods helps to lower the risk not >only of PCOS but also of ovarian cysts, >fibroids, endometriosis, PMS, hot flushes, weight gain and depression. > > > >The Safer Sweetener > >Increased sugar consumption has bedevilled >Western cultures with more and more health >problems, many of which are putting an enormous >strain on health care systems. Finally, there is >an answer to our collective prayers for >something truly healthy that can also satisfy >our sweet tooth. Over 1,500 scientific studies >have found that the more you use xylitol, the >more you can eliminate sugar cravings, reduce >insulin levels and alkalinise your body. It's a >great aid on the way to good health and long life. > >Imagine never having to feel those twinges of >guilt when you bite into a xylitol-sweetened >brownie. Or how about increasing your bone >density while enjoying your favourite hot drink >with two spoonfuls of xylitol crystals, or >knowing that xylitol-sweetened chewing gum is >preventing cavities and gum disease? > >With xylitol, you can now have your sweet tooth and treat it, too! > >Footnotes: >1. Zeines, Victor, DDS, MS, FAGD. Healthy Mouth, >Healthy Body. Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2000, p. 55. >2. ibid., p. 29. >3. Beiswanger, BB, Boneta AE, Mau MS, Katz BP, >Proskin HM, Stookey GK. The effect of chewing >sugar-free gum after meals on clinical caries >incidence. J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 1998;129:1623-6. >4. , , DMD, DMSc. The effect of >non-cariogenic sweeteners on the prevention of >dental caries: A review of evidence. Harvard >School of Dental Medicine. See >http://www.lib.umich.edu/dentlib/ nihcdc/abstracts/hayes.html. >5. How Xylitol-containing Products Affect >Cariogenic Bacteria. J. Am. Dent. Assoc., April 2000. >6. J. Am. Geriatrics Soc. 2002;50. See ><http://www.globalaging.org/health/world/medgum.htm.>http://www.globalaging.org\ /health/world/medgum.htm. >7. Luotonen M, Uhari M, Aitola, L et al. >Recurrent otitis media during infancy and >linguistic skills at the age of nine years. Pediatr. Infect. J. 1996;15:854-8. >8. KE, Haggard MP, Silva PA, IA. >Behavior and development effects of otitis media >with effusion into the teens. Arch. Dis. Child 2001 Aug;85(2):91-5. >9. See website <http://www.nasal-xylitol.com.>http://www.nasal-xylitol.com. >10. Svanberg M, Mattila P, Knuttila M. Dietary >xylitol retards the ovariectomy-induced increase >of bone turnover in rats. Calcif. Tissue Int. 60:462-466. >11. Mattila P, Svanberg, M, Knuttila, M. >Increased bone volume and bone mineral content >in xylitol-fed aged rats. Gerontology 2001;47:300-305. >12. Carbohydrates: The Good, the Bad, and the >Ugly. Dr Whittaker Newsletter, vol. 13, no. 4, April 2000. >13. , Lee MD. What Your Doctor May Not Tell >You About Breast Cancer. Warner Books, 2002, p. 61. >14. ibid, p. 62. > > > >Extracted from Nexus Magazine, Volume 10, Number 1 (Dec '02-Jan 2003) >PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia. editor@... >Telephone: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381 > From our web page at: www.nexusmagazine.com > >by Sherrill Sellman © 2002 >GetWell International >PO Box 690416 >Tulsa, OK 74169-0416, USA >Email: golight@... >Website: <http://www.ssellman.com>http://www.ssellman.com > >[Editor's Note: Several mentions of animal >experiments are made in this article. NEXUS does >not agree with the practices of animal >experimentation and vivisection, but we also >don't want to censor the articles we publish.] > >About the Author: >Sherrill Sellman is the author of the >bestselling book, Hormone Heresy: What Women >Must Know About Their Hormones. She can be >contacted via her website, >http://www.ssellman.com, or by email at >golight@.... To subscribe to her >monthly HormoneWise e-Digest, send an email to hwise@.... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 I don't think I'm allergic to it, but I think I'm sensitive to it because it is a prebiotic, and prebiotics help the bad bacteria grow as well as the good. I can't seem to knock back the bad bacteria enough, because my immune system is so low, even though I eat tons of garlic and take several bottles of acidophilus a week. It just doesn't seem to stick. I can only tolerate very small amounts of the Primal Defense. Anyone know of a really good probiotic? I can occassionally have very small amounts of maple syrup. It has a lot of nutrients. What is the agave syrup? I never heard of it. I do the same thing with juice, but have only a tiny amount and don't have it very often. Or I mix it with unsweetend soy milk to get some protein and fat with it to offset the sugar. My mom loved that X-lear nasal spray, so she got some for me. It made the chronic sinusitis/funal inection in my sinuses even worse. The only thing I've found to help is NeilMed Nasal Rinse....you can get at the drug store for about $12. It has the solution packets and a special delivery system that is patent pending. (Much better than a Neti Pot). it really gets stuff out of the sinuses. My friend says its better than sex! lol Kenda Skaggs <lovesgoldens@...> wrote: I use agave syrup and like it too. I had never used xylitol until I added it to my pure cranberry juice. Even diluted cranberry juice it is WAY too tart for me. The xylitol helped tremendously and left no nasty aftertaste like some sweeteners can and it wasn’t too sweet. I like that it doesn’t feed candida and can actually help it.KendaXylitol is recommended for diabetics, and I occasionally use it, as I don't do sugar. I tend to use real maple syrup. There is a new agave syrup that I am looking for also.I don't do much of any of these, just a touch now and then when something is just too, too sour.When I drink juice, I dilute it with water, because all juices have natural sugars. I tend to eat whole fruit instead of drinking juices, for the most part.There is even a Xylitol nose spray that helps clear out sinuses, called X-lear and I tried it, it does help.Lynda>Has anyone here tried Xylitol? It is a natural >sugar replacement that is touted as being >healthy. My bladder is bothering me so I bought >some natural unsweetened cranberry juice. It’s >a bit too tart for me so I added some xylitol to >it. Since I had never tasted xylitol before, I >had no idea what to expect. To my surprise, it >tastes very good! It is sweet but not overly >sweet. It tastes better than sugar to me. Here >is a bit of information on xylitol. In baking, >you can substitute it one for one for sugar. My >new MD is the one who suggested to me that I use >xylitol for its health benefits.>>Kenda>>Xylitol - All Natural Sweetener>Xylitol - Our Sweet Salvation?>>>>Xylitol is not only a safe, natural sweetener >without the bad side-effects of sugar and >artificial substitutes, it's also good for your >teeth, stabilises insulin and hormone levels and promotes good health.>>>>Americans have a mighty hankering for sugar. It >seems that we just can't get enough of the >stuff. On average, a half a cup of sugar is >consumed per person every day. It is estimated >that the average American eats, drinks, slurps, >stirs and sprinkles about 150 pounds of it >annually. Never in modern history has a culture consumed so much sugar.>>Sugar truly does deserve its reputation as a >"white poison". Thinking of sugar as a food is >really a stretch of the imagination, because it >is more a chemical that is difficult for our >bodies to utilise and digest. Humans were really >not designed to eat large amounts of sugar in >whatever form it may take: white and brown, corn >syrup, sucrose, dextrose, glucose, fructose, >lactose, maltose, barley malt, honey, rice syrup >and maple syrup. Sugar is also highly seductive, >acting like an addictive drug that lures even >the most well-intentioned person back into its sweet clutches.>>According to Chinese wisdom, sweetness is one of >the flavours necessary for maintaining balance >in the body. But regularly eating large amounts >of sugar will cause serious harm. Sugar can >cause hypoglycaemia and weight gain, leading to >diabetes and obesity in both children and >adults. It leaches the body of vital minerals >and vitamins. It raises blood pressure, >triglycerides and the bad cholesterol (LDL), >increasing the risk of heart disease. It causes >tooth decay and periodontal disease, which leads >to tooth loss and systemic infections. It makes >it difficult for a child's brain to learn, >resulting in a lack of concentration. Both >children and adults exhibit disruptive >behaviour, learning disorders and forgetfulness >from sugar consumption. It initiates auto-immune >and immune deficiency disorders such as >arthritis, allergies and asthma. It also upsets >hormonal imbalance and supports the growth of cancer cells.>>So what are we to do? Will our sugar-cravings >always hold us hostage, or is there really a way >to lick the sugar habit successfully?>>>>Xylitol to the Rescue!>>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 >re-discovered 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 stabilised that it became a viable sweetener >in foods. It was also during this time that >researchers discovered xylitol's >insulin-independent nature (it metabolises in the body without using insulin).>>By the 1960s, xylitol was being used in Germany, >Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Japan as a >preferred sweetener in diabetic diets and as an >energy source for infusion therapy in patients >with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin >resistance. Since then, many other countries >including Italy and China have been producing >xylitol for use in their domestic markets--and >with remarkable health benefits. It has been >relatively unknown in the USA and Australia, >primarily because cheap supplies of cane sugar >made the more expensive xylitol less economically viable.>>Xylitol is a natural substance found in fibrous >vegetables and fruit, as well as in corn cobs >and various hardwood trees like birch. It is a >natural, intermediate product which regularly >occurs in the glucose metabolism of man and >other animals as well as in the metabolism of >several plants and micro-organisms. Xylitol is >produced naturally in our bodies; in fact, we >make up to 15 grams daily during normal metabolism.>>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-ageing 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.>>Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration >(FDA) in 1963, xylitol has no known toxic >levels. The only discomfort that some sensitive >people may notice initially when taking large >amounts is mild diarrhoea 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 per cent fewer calories and 75 >per cent 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 looks, feels and tastes exactly like >sugar and leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. It is >available in many forms. In its crystalline >form, it can replace sugar in cooking, baking or >as a sweetener for beverages. It is also >included as an ingredient in chewing gum, mints and nasal spray.>>>>Xylitol and Oral Health>>Tooth decay and gum disease are serious >problems. According to the American Dental >Association, 75 per cent of American adults over >the age of 35 suffer from some form of >periodontal disease.1 Needless to say, diet >plays a major role in dental heath. When there >is an excess of sugar in the diet, this weakens >the immune system and creates an acidic >environment; thus oral health suffers. The mouth >is home to over 400 strains of bacteria. Most of >these are benign, but when sugar enters the >scene it feeds the destructive strains, allowing them to proliferate.>>Periodontal disease is basically caused by >bacteria. These deposits permit the growth of >bacteria that cause inflammation of the gums. >The bacteria also release minute amounts of >toxins that break down gum tissue, thereby >helping the infection to progress. Plaque is an >invisible, sticky film of saliva and food >residue that constantly forms on the teeth. >Ongoing low-grade bacterial infection also burdens the immune system.>>Bacteria help to create plaque and they also >thrive within it. Unless removed, plaque formed >along the gum line can lead to gum disease. When >left untreated, plaque at or below the gum line >hardens into tartar. Periodontal disease takes >two forms: simple gum inflammation, called >gingivitis; and a more severe gum infection, >called periodontitis, which may lead to tooth loss and receding gums.>>Gingivitis results from the build-up of plaque >and tartar which irritate the gum or periodontal >tissue. The more advanced state of gum disease, >periodontitis, occurs when inflammation of the >gums is accompanied by bone and ligament >destruction. Bleeding gums are usually the first >indication that gum disease is developing, but >obvious symptoms may not always be present.>>Gum infection can also lead to other serious >health problems. It doubles the risk of stroke, >triples the risk of heart attack, increases the >incidence of premature, low-weight babies and >also contributes to bronchitis, pneumonia and >emphysema. In fact, the same bacteria that cause >gum disease end up either directly or indirectly >infecting your heart and arteries. A study >conducted at the University of Minnesota in 1998 >found that rabbits injected with tooth plaque >developed blood clots which led to heart >disease.2 It seems that the bacteria first >attack the bones and gums in the mouth and then >enter the bloodstream through small cracks in the gums.>>Eating sugar causes tooth decay by creating a >highly acidic condition in the mouth. Acidity >strips tooth enamel of minerals, causing it to >weaken and making it more vulnerable to attack >by bacteria, leading to tooth decay or >demineralisation. Ordinarily, saliva bathes the >mouth with an alkaline solution that neutralises >all acidity and actually remineralises the >teeth. Saliva also washes away leftover bits of >food and helps the digestion process. But when >saliva turns acidic because of too many sweets, >bacteria in the mouth have a feeding frenzy. >These nasty bacteria, along with carbohydrate >waste, stick to the teeth and tongue and hold >the acid close to the teeth where it eats away >enamel. Virtually whatever food you ingest, the >remaining particles become food for >plaque-producing bacteria. Using xylitol helps >to raise plaque pH, thereby reducing the time >that teeth are exposed to damaging acids as well >as starving harmful bacteria of their food source.>>Xylitol is a dentist's dream. It reverses all >these destructive effects of sugar on oral >health. Xylitol is non-fermentable and therefore >cannot be converted to acids by oral bacteria, >thus it helps to restore a proper alkaline/acid >balance in the mouth. This alkaline environment >is inhospitable to all the destructive bacteria, >especially the worst variety, Streptococcus >mutans. It also inhibits plaque formation.>>Using xylitol right before bedtime, after >brushing and flossing, protects and heals the >teeth and gums. Unlike sugar, it can even be >left on the teeth overnight. With proper use, >xylitol actually stops the fermentation process >leading to tooth decay. Long-term use suppresses >the most harmful strains of oral bacteria, >making a long-lasting change in those bacterial >communities. Xylitol even has the ability to >enhance the mineralisation of the enamel. It is >most effective in treating small decay spots. >Although larger cavities won't go away, they can >harden and become less sensitive.>>Consistently using small amounts of xylitol >tends to increase protective factors in saliva. >Xylitol stimulates saliva flow and helps keep >salivary minerals in a useful form. Prolonged >xylitol use increases the buffering capacity and >protective factors in saliva. Increased saliva >production is especially important for people >suffering with a dry mouth due to illness, ageing or drug side-effects.>>Since the oral environment becomes less acidic >with continued xylitol use, it is advisable to >chew xylitol gum or suck a xylitol mint after >every meal or after eating sweet snacks. The >best news is that studies have shown that >xylitol's effect is long-lasting and possibly even permanent.>>Xylitol has recently received positive support >in the Journal of the American Dental >Association. "Xylitol is an effective preventive >agent against dental caries ... Consumption of >xylitol-containing chewing gum has been >demonstrated to reduce caries in Finnish >teenagers by 30 & endash;60 per cent. Studies >conducted in Canada, Thailand, Polynesia and >Belize have shown similar results..."3 A study >conducted at Harvard School of Dental Medicine >concluded that "xylitol can significantly >decrease the incidence of dental caries".4>>Another unexpected benefit came from a Finnish >study which showed that children whose teeth are >colonised between 19 and 31 months of age by >Streptococcus mutans bacteria are more likely to >have a large number of cavities. Most children >acquire this bacteria from their mother's saliva >through food tasting, sharing cups and kissing. >The study showed a dramatic 70 per cent >reduction in tooth decay among children whose mothers chewed xylitol gum.5>>Xylitol, however, isn't just for the young. In a >paper published in the Journal of the American >Geriatrics Society, researchers tested 111 >adults aged 60 and older over a 12-month period. >All were frail but healthy adults. In the study, >one group of volunteers chewed no gum, a second >chewed gum containing xylitol, and a third group >chewed gum containing both xylitol and an >antimicrobial. In the two groups receiving gum, >the participants chewed two pieces for 15 >minutes, two times per day. At the end of the >study, the researchers reported that the group >who received xylitol gum had substantially >lowered their risk of developing thrush, a >fungal or yeast infection that can cause mouth >soreness. (The group who received xylitol plus >the antimicrobial had equal benefits.) It had >also reduced their risk of developing angular >cheilitis, a condition in which sores develop in >the corners of the mouth. The researchers noted >that xylitol gum can provide a "real clinical >bene fit" to frail, elderly people.6>>>>Xylitol and Ear, Nose and Throat Infections>>Recurring middle ear infections pose a great >health threat to children. Tubes are often >inserted into the ear drum in children with >these recurring infections to reduce the fluid >that is attempting to wash out the infection >from the middle ear. While this procedure >sometimes helps to reduce the frequency of >infections, it is also designed to help with hearing.>>Language, a critical part of learning, is built >by auditory input during the first two years of >life--the same period when ear infections are >most common. If this input is dampened by >infection or fluid in the middle ear during this >important period, it can cause learning >problems. One researcher demonstrated that even >when properly treated, recurrent middle ear >infections during the first two years result in >significant impairment in reading ability up to >the age of nine.7 Another study followed >children longer and showed significant learning >and social problems extending up to age eighteen.8>>One of xylitol's versatile benefits is its >ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria that >cause middle ear infections in young children. >In two recent studies involving over 1,000 >children, xylitol-flavoured chewing gum was >found to reduce the incidence of middle ear >infections by 40 per cent, significantly >decreasing ongoing middle ear complications and the need for antibiotics.>>Regularly washing the nose with a spray >containing xylitol decreases the number of >harmful bacteria and stimulates normal defensive >washing of this area. A clean nose reduces >problems with allergies and asthma that >originate from nasal irritants and pollutants. >Current research shows how bacteria attach to >cells in the body, causing infection. Some >sugars like xylitol are known to be able to >interfere with this binding, blocking the >attachment of the major infection-causing >bacteria that live in the nose. Dr Lon , a >physician in Plainsview, Texas, reported that >the use of a xylitol nasal spray in his practice >prevented 93 per cent of ear infections and >resulted in comparable reductions in sinus infections, allergies and asthma.9>>Xylitol has been shown to be effective in >inhibiting Candida albicans, a serious systemic >yeast problem, and other harmful gut bacteria >including H. pylori, implicated in periodontal >disease, bad breath, gastric and duodenal ulcers and even stomach cancer.>>>>Xylitol and Osteoporosis>>Another exciting benefit from xylitol is its >role in reversing bone loss. Studies in Finland >found that xylitol maintained bone density in >rats that had their ovaries removed. Without >ovaries, oestrogen levels plummeted and so did >the bone density in rats that were not given >xylitol. However, in the rats that had ovaries >removed and were given xylitol, bone density >actually increased.10 Another study showed that >xylitol was effective in decreasing age-related >bone loss in older male rats by 10 per cent.11>>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. Including xylitol in >one's diet is certainly an enjoyable way to reap >the benefits of greater bone density, along with other health benefits.>>>>Xylitol and Insulin Resistance, Diabetes Hypertension and Hormonal Imbalances>>Consuming sugar and other refined carbohydrates >results in the rapid release of glucose, or >blood sugar. In response, the pancreas secretes >insulin to usher glucose into the cells, where >it is burned for energy. Excess glucose stresses >the system, and over time the cells become less >responsive to insulin. This condition, known as >insulin resistance, is a huge health problem and >it is estimated to affect half the American >population. Insulin resistance is associated >with abnormalities in cholesterol and >triglyceride levels, hypertension, increased >risk of heart disease and diabetes.>>The dramatic rise in type-2 diabetes since the >mid-1900s directly coincides with our increased >consumption of sugar. One long-term study of >more than 65,000 women demonstrated that a >high-sugar, low-fibre diet increased the risk of >type-2 diabetes by 250 per cent. Another recent >study found that excessive intake of sugar was >the single most important dietary risk factor >for heart disease in women and for men. It has >been estimated that sugar intake may account for >more than 150,000 premature deaths from heart >disease in the United States each year.12>>Xylitol has been demonstrated in repeated >clinical studies to be very slowly metabolised. >In fact, on the glycaemic index, which measures >how quickly foods enter the bloodstream, sugar >is rated at 100 and xylitol at just seven! >Xylitol is a natural insulin stabiliser, >therefore it causes none of the abrupt rises and >falls that occur with sugar. In fact, it >actually helps in stopping sugar and >carbohydrate cravings. Foods sweetened with >xylitol will not raise insulin levels. This >makes it a perfect sweetener for people with >diabetes as well as those wanting to lose >weight. There is a growing consensus amongst >anti-ageing researchers that maintaining low >insulin levels is a key to a successful anti-ageing program.>>Insulin resistance also plays a significant role >in hormonal imbalances, including those that >lead to breast cancer. High insulin levels >increase the production of oestrogens, leading >to an oestrogen-dominant condition, and also >interfere with healthy ovarian function. Insulin >resistance is a major cause of a growing >hormonal problem called polycystic ovarian >syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes the ovaries to >become anovulatory, which means that the normal >cyclic production of oestrogen followed by >progesterone either ceases or becomes >dysfunctional. Insulin stimulates the ovaries to >produce predominantly male hormones, which, in >combination with higher insulin and glucose >levels, increase weight-gain around the waist--a >body type that is a risk factor for breast >cancer. Signs that the body is being exposed to >higher levels of the male hormones include acne, >loss of head hair and an increase in body hair. >Lowering insulin levels is crucial for not only >treating PCOS but also resolvi ng most other >hormonal imbalances, including those leading to breast cancer.13>>Dr Lee, author of What Your Doctor May Not >Tell You About Breast Cancer, explains the >connection between insulin resistance and breast cancer:>"Overeating junk food makes you fat. Increased >body fat and lack of exercise lead to insulin >resistance. Insulin resistance leads to further >craving of sugary carbohydrates to generate >energy for the body. More insulin is released in >response to increased carbohydrate intake, >leading to more weight gain. More fat leads to >more estrogens, which, in turn, lead to earlier >breast development and menstruation. Earlier >onset of menstruation leads to more ovulatory >cycles and a greater lifetime exposure to >oestrogens without adequate progesterone. A >greater lifetime exposure to estrogens increases breast cancer risk.>>"Simultaneously, increased consumption of simple >carbohydrates, coupled with insulin resistance, >leads to polycystic ovaries and lack of >ovulation during menstrual cycles, resulting in >excess production of androgens and estrogens, >along with inadequate production of >progesterone. Excessive estrogen production in >the absence of progesterone production leads to >estrogen dominance and increased breast cancer >risk. Use of contraceptive hormones increases >insulin resistance, exacerbating all the above problems."14>>Using xylitol instead of sugar as well as >reducing intake of high-glycaemic, refined >carbohydrate foods helps to lower the risk not >only of PCOS but also of ovarian cysts, >fibroids, endometriosis, PMS, hot flushes, weight gain and depression.>>>>The Safer Sweetener>>Increased sugar consumption has bedevilled >Western cultures with more and more health >problems, many of which are putting an enormous >strain on health care systems. Finally, there is >an answer to our collective prayers for >something truly healthy that can also satisfy >our sweet tooth. Over 1,500 scientific studies >have found that the more you use xylitol, the >more you can eliminate sugar cravings, reduce >insulin levels and alkalinise your body. It's a >great aid on the way to good health and long life.>>Imagine never having to feel those twinges of >guilt when you bite into a xylitol-sweetened >brownie. Or how about increasing your bone >density while enjoying your favourite hot drink >with two spoonfuls of xylitol crystals, or >knowing that xylitol-sweetened chewing gum is >preventing cavities and gum disease?>>With xylitol, you can now have your sweet tooth and treat it, too!>>Footnotes:>1. Zeines, Victor, DDS, MS, FAGD. Healthy Mouth, >Healthy Body. Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2000, p. 55.>2. ibid., p. 29.>3. Beiswanger, BB, Boneta AE, Mau MS, Katz BP, >Proskin HM, Stookey GK. The effect of chewing >sugar-free gum after meals on clinical caries >incidence. J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 1998;129:1623-6.>4. , , DMD, DMSc. The effect of >non-cariogenic sweeteners on the prevention of >dental caries: A review of evidence. Harvard >School of Dental Medicine. See >http://www.lib.umich.edu/dentlib/ nihcdc/abstracts/hayes.html.>5. How Xylitol-containing Products Affect >Cariogenic Bacteria. J. Am. Dent. Assoc., April 2000.>6. J. Am. Geriatrics Soc. 2002;50. See ><http://www.globalaging.org/health/world/medgum.htm.>http://www.globalaging.org/health/world/medgum.htm.>7. Luotonen M, Uhari M, Aitola, L et al. >Recurrent otitis media during infancy and >linguistic skills at the age of nine years. Pediatr. Infect. J. 1996;15:854-8.>8. KE, Haggard MP, Silva PA, IA. >Behavior and development effects of otitis media >with effusion into the teens. Arch. Dis. Child 2001 Aug;85(2):91-5.>9. See website <http://www.nasal-xylitol.com.>http://www.nasal-xylitol.com.>10. Svanberg M, Mattila P, Knuttila M. Dietary >xylitol retards the ovariectomy-induced increase >of bone turnover in rats. Calcif. Tissue Int. 60:462-466.>11. Mattila P, Svanberg, M, Knuttila, M. >Increased bone volume and bone mineral content >in xylitol-fed aged rats. Gerontology 2001;47:300-305.>12. Carbohydrates: The Good, the Bad, and the >Ugly. Dr Whittaker Newsletter, vol. 13, no. 4, April 2000.>13. , Lee MD. What Your Doctor May Not Tell >You About Breast Cancer. Warner Books, 2002, p. 61.>14. ibid, p. 62.>>>>Extracted from Nexus Magazine, Volume 10, Number 1 (Dec '02-Jan 2003)>PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia. editornexusmagazine <mailto:editor%40nexusmagazine.com> >Telephone: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381> From our web page at: www.nexusmagazine.com>>by Sherrill Sellman © 2002>GetWell International>PO Box 690416>Tulsa, OK 74169-0416, USA>Email: golightearthlink (DOT) net <mailto:golight%40earthlink.net> >Website: <http://www.ssellman.com>http://www.ssellman.com>>[Editor's Note: Several mentions of animal >experiments are made in this article. NEXUS does >not agree with the practices of animal >experimentation and vivisection, but we also >don't want to censor the articles we publish.]>>About the Author:>Sherrill Sellman is the author of the >bestselling book, Hormone Heresy: What Women >Must Know About Their Hormones. She can be >contacted via her website, >http://www.ssellman.com, or by email at >golightearthlink (DOT) net <mailto:golight%40earthlink.net> . To subscribe to her >monthly HormoneWise e-Digest, send an email to hwisessellman <mailto:hwise%40ssellman.com> .> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 I cannot have soy. Agave nectar is another natural sugar. Lynda At 03:29 PM 5/9/2007, you wrote: >I don't think I'm allergic to it, but I think >I'm sensitive to it because it is a prebiotic, >and prebiotics help the bad bacteria grow as >well as the good. I can't seem to knock back >the bad bacteria enough, because my immune >system is so low, even though I eat tons of >garlic and take several bottles of acidophilus a >week. It just doesn't seem to stick. I can only >tolerate very small amounts of the Primal >Defense. Anyone know of a really good probiotic? > >I can occassionally have very small amounts of >maple syrup. It has a lot of nutrients. What is >the agave syrup? I never heard of it. > >I do the same thing with juice, but have only a >tiny amount and don't have it very often. Or I >mix it with unsweetend soy milk to get some >protein and fat with it to offset the sugar. > >My mom loved that X-lear nasal spray, so she got >some for me. It made the chronic >sinusitis/funal inection in my sinuses even >worse. The only thing I've found to help is >NeilMed Nasal Rinse....you can get at the drug >store for about $12. It has the solution >packets and a special delivery system that is >patent pending. (Much better than a Neti >Pot). it really gets stuff out of the sinuses. >My friend says its better than sex! lol > > > >Kenda Skaggs <lovesgoldens@...> wrote: >I use agave syrup and like it too. I had never >used xylitol until I added it to my pure >cranberry juice. Even diluted cranberry juice >it is WAY too tart for me. The xylitol helped >tremendously and left no nasty aftertaste like >some sweeteners can and it wasn’t too sweet. I >like that it doesn’t feed candida and can actually help it. > >Kenda > > >Xylitol is recommended for diabetics, and I >occasionally use it, as I don't do sugar. I tend >to use real maple syrup. There is a new agave >syrup that I am looking for also. > >I don't do much of any of these, just a touch now >and then when something is just too, too sour. > >When I drink juice, I dilute it with water, >because all juices have natural sugars. I tend >to eat whole fruit instead of drinking juices, for the most part. > >There is even a Xylitol nose spray that helps >clear out sinuses, called X-lear and I tried it, it does help. > >Lynda > > >Has anyone here tried Xylitol? It is a natural > >sugar replacement that is touted as being > >healthy. My bladder is bothering me so I bought > >some natural unsweetened cranberry juice. It’s > >a bit too tart for me so I added some xylitol to > >it. Since I had never tasted xylitol before, I > >had no idea what to expect. To my surprise, it > >tastes very good! It is sweet but not overly > >sweet. It tastes better than sugar to me. Here > >is a bit of information on xylitol. In baking, > >you can substitute it one for one for sugar. My > >new MD is the one who suggested to me that I use > >xylitol for its health benefits. > > > >Kenda > > > >Xylitol - All Natural Sweetener > >Xylitol - Our Sweet Salvation? > > > > > > > >Xylitol is not only a safe, natural sweetener > >without the bad side-effects of sugar and > >artificial substitutes, it's also good for your > >teeth, stabilises insulin and hormone levels and promotes good health. > > > > > > > >Americans have a mighty hankering for sugar. It > >seems that we just can't get enough of the > >stuff. On average, a half a cup of sugar is > >consumed per person every day. It is estimated > >that the average American eats, drinks, slurps, > >stirs and sprinkles about 150 pounds of it > >annually. Never in modern history has a culture consumed so much sugar. > > > >Sugar truly does deserve its reputation as a > > " white poison " . Thinking of sugar as a food is > >really a stretch of the imagination, because it > >is more a chemical that is difficult for our > >bodies to utilise and digest. Humans were really > >not designed to eat large amounts of sugar in > >whatever form it may take: white and brown, corn > >syrup, sucrose, dextrose, glucose, fructose, > >lactose, maltose, barley malt, honey, rice syrup > >and maple syrup. Sugar is also highly seductive, > >acting like an addictive drug that lures even > >the most well-intentioned person back into its sweet clutches. > > > >According to Chinese wisdom, sweetness is one of > >the flavours necessary for maintaining balance > >in the body. But regularly eating large amounts > >of sugar will cause serious harm. Sugar can > >cause hypoglycaemia and weight gain, leading to > >diabetes and obesity in both children and > >adults. It leaches the body of vital minerals > >and vitamins. It raises blood pressure, > >triglycerides and the bad cholesterol (LDL), > >increasing the risk of heart disease. It causes > >tooth decay and periodontal disease, which leads > >to tooth loss and systemic infections. It makes > >it difficult for a child's brain to learn, > >resulting in a lack of concentration. Both > >children and adults exhibit disruptive > >behaviour, learning disorders and forgetfulness > >from sugar consumption. It initiates auto-immune > >and immune deficiency disorders such as > >arthritis, allergies and asthma. It also upsets > >hormonal imbalance and supports the growth of cancer cells. > > > >So what are we to do? Will our sugar-cravings > >always hold us hostage, or is there really a way > >to lick the sugar habit successfully? > > > > > > > >Xylitol to the Rescue! > > > >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 > >re-discovered 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 stabilised that it became a viable sweetener > >in foods. It was also during this time that > >researchers discovered xylitol's > >insulin-independent nature (it metabolises in > the body without using insulin). > > > >By the 1960s, xylitol was being used in Germany, > >Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Japan as a > >preferred sweetener in diabetic diets and as an > >energy source for infusion therapy in patients > >with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin > >resistance. Since then, many other countries > >including Italy and China have been producing > >xylitol for use in their domestic markets--and > >with remarkable health benefits. It has been > >relatively unknown in the USA and Australia, > >primarily because cheap supplies of cane sugar > >made the more expensive xylitol less economically viable. > > > >Xylitol is a natural substance found in fibrous > >vegetables and fruit, as well as in corn cobs > >and various hardwood trees like birch. It is a > >natural, intermediate product which regularly > >occurs in the glucose metabolism of man and > >other animals as well as in the metabolism of > >several plants and micro-organisms. Xylitol is > >produced naturally in our bodies; in fact, we > >make up to 15 grams daily during normal metabolism. > > > >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-ageing 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. > > > >Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration > >(FDA) in 1963, xylitol has no known toxic > >levels. The only discomfort that some sensitive > >people may notice initially when taking large > >amounts is mild diarrhoea 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 per cent fewer calories and 75 > >per cent 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 looks, feels and tastes exactly like > >sugar and leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. It is > >available in many forms. In its crystalline > >form, it can replace sugar in cooking, baking or > >as a sweetener for beverages. It is also > >included as an ingredient in chewing gum, mints and nasal spray. > > > > > > > >Xylitol and Oral Health > > > >Tooth decay and gum disease are serious > >problems. According to the American Dental > >Association, 75 per cent of American adults over > >the age of 35 suffer from some form of > >periodontal disease.1 Needless to say, diet > >plays a major role in dental heath. When there > >is an excess of sugar in the diet, this weakens > >the immune system and creates an acidic > >environment; thus oral health suffers. The mouth > >is home to over 400 strains of bacteria. Most of > >these are benign, but when sugar enters the > >scene it feeds the destructive strains, allowing them to proliferate. > > > >Periodontal disease is basically caused by > >bacteria. These deposits permit the growth of > >bacteria that cause inflammation of the gums. > >The bacteria also release minute amounts of > >toxins that break down gum tissue, thereby > >helping the infection to progress. Plaque is an > >invisible, sticky film of saliva and food > >residue that constantly forms on the teeth. > >Ongoing low-grade bacterial infection also burdens the immune system. > > > >Bacteria help to create plaque and they also > >thrive within it. Unless removed, plaque formed > >along the gum line can lead to gum disease. When > >left untreated, plaque at or below the gum line > >hardens into tartar. Periodontal disease takes > >two forms: simple gum inflammation, called > >gingivitis; and a more severe gum infection, > >called periodontitis, which may lead to tooth loss and receding gums. > > > >Gingivitis results from the build-up of plaque > >and tartar which irritate the gum or periodontal > >tissue. The more advanced state of gum disease, > >periodontitis, occurs when inflammation of the > >gums is accompanied by bone and ligament > >destruction. Bleeding gums are usually the first > >indication that gum disease is developing, but > >obvious symptoms may not always be present. > > > >Gum infection can also lead to other serious > >health problems. It doubles the risk of stroke, > >triples the risk of heart attack, increases the > >incidence of premature, low-weight babies and > >also contributes to bronchitis, pneumonia and > >emphysema. In fact, the same bacteria that cause > >gum disease end up either directly or indirectly > >infecting your heart and arteries. A study > >conducted at the University of Minnesota in 1998 > >found that rabbits injected with tooth plaque > >developed blood clots which led to heart > >disease.2 It seems that the bacteria first > >attack the bones and gums in the mouth and then > >enter the bloodstream through small cracks in the gums. > > > >Eating sugar causes tooth decay by creating a > >highly acidic condition in the mouth. Acidity > >strips tooth enamel of minerals, causing it to > >weaken and making it more vulnerable to attack > >by bacteria, leading to tooth decay or > >demineralisation. Ordinarily, saliva bathes the > >mouth with an alkaline solution that neutralises > >all acidity and actually remineralises the > >teeth. Saliva also washes away leftover bits of > >food and helps the digestion process. But when > >saliva turns acidic because of too many sweets, > >bacteria in the mouth have a feeding frenzy. > >These nasty bacteria, along with carbohydrate > >waste, stick to the teeth and tongue and hold > >the acid close to the teeth where it eats away > >enamel. Virtually whatever food you ingest, the > >remaining particles become food for > >plaque-producing bacteria. Using xylitol helps > >to raise plaque pH, thereby reducing the time > >that teeth are exposed to damaging acids as well > >as starving harmful bacteria of their food source. > > > >Xylitol is a dentist's dream. It reverses all > >these destructive effects of sugar on oral > >health. Xylitol is non-fermentable and therefore > >cannot be converted to acids by oral bacteria, > >thus it helps to restore a proper alkaline/acid > >balance in the mouth. This alkaline environment > >is inhospitable to all the destructive bacteria, > >especially the worst variety, Streptococcus > >mutans. It also inhibits plaque formation. > > > >Using xylitol right before bedtime, after > >brushing and flossing, protects and heals the > >teeth and gums. Unlike sugar, it can even be > >left on the teeth overnight. With proper use, > >xylitol actually stops the fermentation process > >leading to tooth decay. Long-term use suppresses > >the most harmful strains of oral bacteria, > >making a long-lasting change in those bacterial > >communities. Xylitol even has the ability to > >enhance the mineralisation of the enamel. It is > >most effective in treating small decay spots. > >Although larger cavities won't go away, they can > >harden and become less sensitive. > > > >Consistently using small amounts of xylitol > >tends to increase protective factors in saliva. > >Xylitol stimulates saliva flow and helps keep > >salivary minerals in a useful form. Prolonged > >xylitol use increases the buffering capacity and > >protective factors in saliva. Increased saliva > >production is especially important for people > >suffering with a dry mouth due to illness, ageing or drug side-effects. > > > >Since the oral environment becomes less acidic > >with continued xylitol use, it is advisable to > >chew xylitol gum or suck a xylitol mint after > >every meal or after eating sweet snacks. The > >best news is that studies have shown that > >xylitol's effect is long-lasting and possibly even permanent. > > > >Xylitol has recently received positive support > >in the Journal of the American Dental > >Association. " Xylitol is an effective preventive > >agent against dental caries ... Consumption of > >xylitol-containing chewing gum has been > >demonstrated to reduce caries in Finnish > >teenagers by 30 & endash;60 per cent. Studies > >conducted in Canada, Thailand, Polynesia and > >Belize have shown similar results... " 3 A study > >conducted at Harvard School of Dental Medicine > >concluded that " xylitol can significantly > >decrease the incidence of dental caries " .4 > > > >Another unexpected benefit came from a Finnish > >study which showed that children whose teeth are > >colonised between 19 and 31 months of age by > >Streptococcus mutans bacteria are more likely to > >have a large number of cavities. Most children > >acquire this bacteria from their mother's saliva > >through food tasting, sharing cups and kissing. > >The study showed a dramatic 70 per cent > >reduction in tooth decay among children whose mothers chewed xylitol gum.5 > > > >Xylitol, however, isn't just for the young. In a > >paper published in the Journal of the American > >Geriatrics Society, researchers tested 111 > >adults aged 60 and older over a 12-month period. > >All were frail but healthy adults. In the study, > >one group of volunteers chewed no gum, a second > >chewed gum containing xylitol, and a third group > >chewed gum containing both xylitol and an > >antimicrobial. In the two groups receiving gum, > >the participants chewed two pieces for 15 > >minutes, two times per day. At the end of the > >study, the researchers reported that the group > >who received xylitol gum had substantially > >lowered their risk of developing thrush, a > >fungal or yeast infection that can cause mouth > >soreness. (The group who received xylitol plus > >the antimicrobial had equal benefits.) It had > >also reduced their risk of developing angular > >cheilitis, a condition in which sores develop in > >the corners of the mouth. The researchers noted > >that xylitol gum can provide a " real clinical > >bene fit " to frail, elderly people.6 > > > > > > > >Xylitol and Ear, Nose and Throat Infections > > > >Recurring middle ear infections pose a great > >health threat to children. Tubes are often > >inserted into the ear drum in children with > >these recurring infections to reduce the fluid > >that is attempting to wash out the infection > >from the middle ear. While this procedure > >sometimes helps to reduce the frequency of > >infections, it is also designed to help with hearing. > > > >Language, a critical part of learning, is built > >by auditory input during the first two years of > >life--the same period when ear infections are > >most common. If this input is dampened by > >infection or fluid in the middle ear during this > >important period, it can cause learning > >problems. One researcher demonstrated that even > >when properly treated, recurrent middle ear > >infections during the first two years result in > >significant impairment in reading ability up to > >the age of nine.7 Another study followed > >children longer and showed significant learning > >and social problems extending up to age eighteen.8 > > > >One of xylitol's versatile benefits is its > >ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria that > >cause middle ear infections in young children. > >In two recent studies involving over 1,000 > >children, xylitol-flavoured chewing gum was > >found to reduce the incidence of middle ear > >infections by 40 per cent, significantly > >decreasing ongoing middle ear complications and the need for antibiotics. > > > >Regularly washing the nose with a spray > >containing xylitol decreases the number of > >harmful bacteria and stimulates normal defensive > >washing of this area. A clean nose reduces > >problems with allergies and asthma that > >originate from nasal irritants and pollutants. > >Current research shows how bacteria attach to > >cells in the body, causing infection. Some > >sugars like xylitol are known to be able to > >interfere with this binding, blocking the > >attachment of the major infection-causing > >bacteria that live in the nose. Dr Lon , a > >physician in Plainsview, Texas, reported that > >the use of a xylitol nasal spray in his practice > >prevented 93 per cent of ear infections and > >resulted in comparable reductions in sinus > infections, allergies and asthma.9 > > > >Xylitol has been shown to be effective in > >inhibiting Candida albicans, a serious systemic > >yeast problem, and other harmful gut bacteria > >including H. pylori, implicated in periodontal > >disease, bad breath, gastric and duodenal ulcers and even stomach cancer. > > > > > > > >Xylitol and Osteoporosis > > > >Another exciting benefit from xylitol is its > >role in reversing bone loss. Studies in Finland > >found that xylitol maintained bone density in > >rats that had their ovaries removed. Without > >ovaries, oestrogen levels plummeted and so did > >the bone density in rats that were not given > >xylitol. However, in the rats that had ovaries > >removed and were given xylitol, bone density > >actually increased.10 Another study showed that > >xylitol was effective in decreasing age-related > >bone loss in older male rats by 10 per cent.11 > > > >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. Including xylitol in > >one's diet is certainly an enjoyable way to reap > >the benefits of greater bone density, along with other health benefits. > > > > > > > >Xylitol and Insulin Resistance, Diabetes > Hypertension and Hormonal Imbalances > > > >Consuming sugar and other refined carbohydrates > >results in the rapid release of glucose, or > >blood sugar. In response, the pancreas secretes > >insulin to usher glucose into the cells, where > >it is burned for energy. Excess glucose stresses > >the system, and over time the cells become less > >responsive to insulin. This condition, known as > >insulin resistance, is a huge health problem and > >it is estimated to affect half the American > >population. Insulin resistance is associated > >with abnormalities in cholesterol and > >triglyceride levels, hypertension, increased > >risk of heart disease and diabetes. > > > >The dramatic rise in type-2 diabetes since the > >mid-1900s directly coincides with our increased > >consumption of sugar. One long-term study of > >more than 65,000 women demonstrated that a > >high-sugar, low-fibre diet increased the risk of > >type-2 diabetes by 250 per cent. Another recent > >study found that excessive intake of sugar was > >the single most important dietary risk factor > >for heart disease in women and for men. It has > >been estimated that sugar intake may account for > >more than 150,000 premature deaths from heart > >disease in the United States each year.12 > > > >Xylitol has been demonstrated in repeated > >clinical studies to be very slowly metabolised. > >In fact, on the glycaemic index, which measures > >how quickly foods enter the bloodstream, sugar > >is rated at 100 and xylitol at just seven! > >Xylitol is a natural insulin stabiliser, > >therefore it causes none of the abrupt rises and > >falls that occur with sugar. In fact, it > >actually helps in stopping sugar and > >carbohydrate cravings. Foods sweetened with > >xylitol will not raise insulin levels. This > >makes it a perfect sweetener for people with > >diabetes as well as those wanting to lose > >weight. There is a growing consensus amongst > >anti-ageing researchers that maintaining low > >insulin levels is a key to a successful anti-ageing program. > > > >Insulin resistance also plays a significant role > >in hormonal imbalances, including those that > >lead to breast cancer. High insulin levels > >increase the production of oestrogens, leading > >to an oestrogen-dominant condition, and also > >interfere with healthy ovarian function. Insulin > >resistance is a major cause of a growing > >hormonal problem called polycystic ovarian > >syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes the ovaries to > >become anovulatory, which means that the normal > >cyclic production of oestrogen followed by > >progesterone either ceases or becomes > >dysfunctional. Insulin stimulates the ovaries to > >produce predominantly male hormones, which, in > >combination with higher insulin and glucose > >levels, increase weight-gain around the waist--a > >body type that is a risk factor for breast > >cancer. Signs that the body is being exposed to > >higher levels of the male hormones include acne, > >loss of head hair and an increase in body hair. > >Lowering insulin levels is crucial for not only > >treating PCOS but also resolvi ng most other > >hormonal imbalances, including those leading to breast cancer.13 > > > >Dr Lee, author of What Your Doctor May Not > >Tell You About Breast Cancer, explains the > >connection between insulin resistance and breast cancer: > > " Overeating junk food makes you fat. Increased > >body fat and lack of exercise lead to insulin > >resistance. Insulin resistance leads to further > >craving of sugary carbohydrates to generate > >energy for the body. More insulin is released in > >response to increased carbohydrate intake, > >leading to more weight gain. More fat leads to > >more estrogens, which, in turn, lead to earlier > >breast development and menstruation. Earlier > >onset of menstruation leads to more ovulatory > >cycles and a greater lifetime exposure to > >oestrogens without adequate progesterone. A > >greater lifetime exposure to estrogens increases breast cancer risk. > > > > " Simultaneously, increased consumption of simple > >carbohydrates, coupled with insulin resistance, > >leads to polycystic ovaries and lack of > >ovulation during menstrual cycles, resulting in > >excess production of androgens and estrogens, > >along with inadequate production of > >progesterone. Excessive estrogen production in > >the absence of progesterone production leads to > >estrogen dominance and increased breast cancer > >risk. Use of contraceptive hormones increases > >insulin resistance, exacerbating all the above problems. " 14 > > > >Using xylitol instead of sugar as well as > >reducing intake of high-glycaemic, refined > >carbohydrate foods helps to lower the risk not > >only of PCOS but also of ovarian cysts, > >fibroids, endometriosis, PMS, hot flushes, weight gain and depression. > > > > > > > >The Safer Sweetener > > > >Increased sugar consumption has bedevilled > >Western cultures with more and more health > >problems, many of which are putting an enormous > >strain on health care systems. Finally, there is > >an answer to our collective prayers for > >something truly healthy that can also satisfy > >our sweet tooth. Over 1,500 scientific studies > >have found that the more you use xylitol, the > >more you can eliminate sugar cravings, reduce > >insulin levels and alkalinise your body. It's a > >great aid on the way to good health and long life. > > > >Imagine never having to feel those twinges of > >guilt when you bite into a xylitol-sweetened > >brownie. Or how about increasing your bone > >density while enjoying your favourite hot drink > >with two spoonfuls of xylitol crystals, or > >knowing that xylitol-sweetened chewing gum is > >preventing cavities and gum disease? > > > >With xylitol, you can now have your sweet tooth and treat it, too! > > > >Footnotes: > >1. Zeines, Victor, DDS, MS, FAGD. Healthy Mouth, > >Healthy Body. Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2000, p. 55. > >2. ibid., p. 29. > >3. Beiswanger, BB, Boneta AE, Mau MS, Katz BP, > >Proskin HM, Stookey GK. The effect of chewing > >sugar-free gum after meals on clinical caries > >incidence. J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 1998;129:1623-6. > >4. , , DMD, DMSc. The effect of > >non-cariogenic sweeteners on the prevention of > >dental caries: A review of evidence. Harvard > >School of Dental Medicine. See > ><http://www.lib.umich.edu/dentlib/>http://www.l > ib.umich.edu/dentlib/ nihcdc/abstracts/hayes.html. > >5. How Xylitol-containing Products Affect > >Cariogenic Bacteria. J. Am. Dent. Assoc., April 2000. > >6. J. Am. Geriatrics Soc. 2002;50. See > ><http://www.globalaging.org/health/world/medgum > .htm.>http://www.globalaging.org/health/world/medgum.htm. > >7. Luotonen M, Uhari M, Aitola, L et al. > >Recurrent otitis media during infancy and > >linguistic skills at the age of nine years. > Pediatr. Infect. J. 1996;15:854-8. > >8. KE, Haggard MP, Silva PA, IA. > >Behavior and development effects of otitis media > >with effusion into the teens. Arch. Dis. Child 2001 Aug;85(2):91-5. > >9. See website <http://www.nasal-xylitol.com.>http://www.nasal-xylitol.com. > >10. Svanberg M, Mattila P, Knuttila M. Dietary > >xylitol retards the ovariectomy-induced increase > >of bone turnover in rats. Calcif. Tissue Int. 60:462-466. > >11. Mattila P, Svanberg, M, Knuttila, M. > >Increased bone volume and bone mineral content > >in xylitol-fed aged rats. Gerontology 2001;47:300-305. > >12. Carbohydrates: The Good, the Bad, and the > >Ugly. Dr Whittaker Newsletter, vol. 13, no. 4, April 2000. > >13. , Lee MD. What Your Doctor May Not Tell > >You About Breast Cancer. Warner Books, 2002, p. 61. > >14. ibid, p. 62. > > > > > > > >Extracted from Nexus Magazine, Volume 10, Number 1 (Dec '02-Jan 2003) > >PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia. > editor@... <mailto:editor%40nexusmagazine.com> > >Telephone: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381 > > From our web page at: www.nexusmagazine.com > > > >by Sherrill Sellman © 2002 > >GetWell International > >PO Box 690416 > >Tulsa, OK 74169-0416, USA > >Email: golight@... <mailto:golight%40earthlink.net> > >Website: <http://www.ssellman.com>http://www.ssellman.com > > > >[Editor's Note: Several mentions of animal > >experiments are made in this article. NEXUS does > >not agree with the practices of animal > >experimentation and vivisection, but we also > >don't want to censor the articles we publish.] > > > >About the Author: > >Sherrill Sellman is the author of the > >bestselling book, Hormone Heresy: What Women > >Must Know About Their Hormones. She can be > >contacted via her website, > ><http://www.ssellman.com,/>http://www.ssellman.com, or by email at > >golight@... > <mailto:golight%40earthlink.net> . To subscribe to her > >monthly HormoneWise e-Digest, send an email to > hwise@... <mailto:hwise%40ssellman.com> . > > > > > > > > > >Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell? >Check out ><http://us.rd./evt=48245/*http://autos./new_cars.html;_ylc=X3\ oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM->new >cars at Autos. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 Funny thing, xylitol gave me terrible runs. I guess it would be ok in my toothpaste, as you hardly swallow that. I cannot use it to sweeten anything. I have tried just about everything, but now use agave nectar, maple syrup and brown sugar and occasionally plain sugar. I try to avoid using sweets anyway. Lynda At 06:35 PM 8/23/2007, you wrote: >I spoke with a very sweet lady on the phone >today and she talked with me alot about using >xylitol and how it has helped her tremendously. >She was extremely ill from silicone gel >implants. She claims it has killed alot of the >bugs in her and gave her tons of energy. >Check out the benefits of xylitol: > >http://www.rxpgnews.com/dental/Xylitol-reduces-risk-of-cavities_15781.shtml > > ><http://www.xylitol-store.com/>http://www.xylitol-store.com/ >(Read this link is you have respiratory issues, >sinus infections, ear infections, allergies or asthma!) > ><http://www.xylitolinfo.com/cms/connect/xylitol/benefits/clinically_proven.htm>\ http://www.xylitolinfo >.com/cms/connect/xylitol/benefits/clinically_proven.htm > > >Need a vacation? ><http://us.rd./evt=48256/*http://travel./;_ylc=X3oDMTFhN2hucj\ lpBF9TAzk3NDA3NTg5BHBvcwM1BHNlYwNncm91cHMEc2xrA2VtYWlsLW5jbQ-->Get >great deals to amazing places on Travel. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 Lynda, When I use it in large quantity, it gives me the runs too, or make my belly gurgle funny. Not sure why, so I never got into using it too often. But this woman in New Mexico has had alot of success with it, she says...I'll post her letter to me. PattyLynda Roth <coss@...> wrote: Funny thing, xylitol gave me terrible runs. I guess it would be ok in my toothpaste, as you hardly swallow that. I cannot use it to sweeten anything. I have tried just about everything, but now use agave nectar, maple syrup and brown sugar and occasionally plain sugar. I try to avoid using sweets anyway.LyndaAt 06:35 PM 8/23/2007, you wrote:>I spoke with a very sweet lady on the phone >today and she talked with me alot about using >xylitol and how it has helped her tremendously. >She was extremely ill from silicone gel >implants. She claims it has killed alot of the >bugs in her and gave her tons of energy.>Check out the benefits of xylitol:>>http://www.rxpgnews.com/dental/Xylitol-reduces-risk-of-cavities_15781.shtml>>><http://www.xylitol-store.com/>http://www.xylitol-store.com/ >(Read this link is you have respiratory issues, >sinus infections, ear infections, allergies or asthma!)>><http://www.xylitolinfo.com/cms/connect/xylitol/benefits/clinically_proven.htm>http://www.xylitolinfo >.com/cms/connect/xylitol/benefits/clinically_proven.htm>>>Need a vacation? ><http://us.rd./evt=48256/*http://travel./;_ylc=X3oDMTFhN2hucjlpBF9TAzk3NDA3NTg5BHBvcwM1BHNlYwNncm91cHMEc2xrA2VtYWlsLW5jbQ-->Get >great deals to amazing places on Travel.> Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Answers - Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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