A naturally occurring compound extracted from the fiber of plants like the birch tree, raspberry, plums, born and other fruits and vegetables, xylitol is tooth-friendly yet sweet to the taste bud.

Confirmed by research to reduce plaque, it appears that this substance attracts and then starves microorganisms like yeast and bacteria, at the same time also prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls of the sinuses and upper respiratory tract.

Since xylitol is sweet in taste, it is often used as a natural sweetener for diabetics and those with blood sugar issues, as it has a significantly lower glycemic index than sugar.

Some Finnish research suggest that xylitol could potentially be used to treat osteoporosis, as it was able to increase bone density in rats that consumed the substance.

Be careful not to use xylitol when yeast is needed, as the yeast-killing sweetener could keep your bread from rising.

References
[1] Collins, Elise Marie. An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods: A Shopper’s Companion. San Francisco, California: Conari Press, 2009. Print.

Cindy L. TJOL is trained in Psychology, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has several years of experience writing on natural health on the internet. Follow her on her blog and read her other articles at Insights On Health.com.