Re: Erythritol/xylitol/stevia

[Guest guest]

I would like to add xylitol, stevia, and any info that Iris digs up on

erythritol to the files. I checked the files for the discussion on xylitol

and couldn't find the source, so MM and anyone else who uses it, could you

please repost where you get it and approximate prices? Same for those who

use stevia; I know there are a few on the list who use it and don't care for

sucralose. So please tell us the best/cheapest sources and I'll put them

on file.

on 8/25/2002 11:47 AM, oc9 at ibap@... wrote:

> I note in the archives that there was a discussion of xylitol at one

> time, but no discussion of erythritol as a sweetener. It has fewer

> calories than xylitol (.2/g rather than xylitol's 2.4) , although it

> certainly doesn't have the studies saying it is actually beneficial.

> Has anyone used it?

>

> Iris

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>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The least expensive source for both xylitol and erythritol (so far)

seems to be http://www.beyond-a-century.com which sells both for

$6/lb. (Google search again.) This is in contrast to some other

sites selling branded products for in excess of $8/lb for xylitol,

and $12/lb for erythritol. www.xylitolnow.com has a range of xylitol

products, and sells the crystals in 12 lb. bags for about $6.15/lb.

It might be more convenient in the larger packages, especially if

you're ordering other stuff from them. So far, I find the xylitol to

be more satisfactory than the erythritol - figures, it's the higher

calorie one. It may be that I need to use more of the erythritol.

There is lots of published information on xylitol indicating that it

reduces cavities and ear infections, apparently especially when used

in chewing gum, and some hints that erythritol probably does the

same. Even more interesting is the data that says giving it to

mothers while pregnant and while their children are small, reduces

the transmission of the bacteria that cause cavities. These bacteria

are normally colonized in children's mouths from their mother's. One

wonders how this would relate to the new data on heart health and

dental health - protect your heart, chew xylitol gum?

D-mannose, a related sugar, is not metabolized, and is apparently the

active ingredient in cranberry juice in fighting urinary tract

infections. It works by binding to e. coli better than e. coli can

bind to cells, so they get flushed out of the body, and is considered

a treatment for recurrent UTIs. You have to wonder if the

xylitol/erythritol effect is similar, just being delivered more

effectively in gum to the mouth and ear region. I have seen no

information on using this as a sweetener, just as a UTI treatment.

My earlier experiences with stevia have not been positive, so I have

rather neglected it. I'm trying a new formulation of it, and will

let you know if I think it's any better.

Iris