I'm looking for data or studies that would show anything negative about Xylitol. I've only heard positive things about this sweetener, but I want to be absolutely sure about it before I recommend it to anyone. Thanks.

Kelly

A few months ago, I searched for hours and could not find a single bad thing about it.

Xylitol

Actually, I had it for the first time yesterday in the form of mints:

Peppermint Mints with Xylitol

And ended up eating half the container with no side effects at all. These are awesome.

It may just be all it's cracked up to be.

Yeah, I had the mints and tried the gum last week; pretty good!! Careful, tho', Russ -- everything in moderation!

Yes, good advice.

I'm now on "mint probation". I have to set limits.

Man, those things are good.

We've been using it for a while here. I use it in lots of stuff, tea, baked goods, whatever.

like it a lot. growing some stevia too.

I stopped using sugar about 4-5 years ago. Never a big sugar user to begin with, started by substituing with honey. Good local raw honey is great, I kind of juggle the two, honey/xylitol these days. I really like the way the xylitol tastes. I bought some xylitol raspberry jam, i think it was the best jam I have ever had.

Someone told me that xylitol actually enters the cells of bacteria in your system and kills them. Not sure about that but during all of my mercury posioning episode I never developed a candida yeast problem for instance, like so many do. May be related. Nice thing about xylitol is that it will help bring an acid ph back to normal, like calcium also does. Which is another reason Russ should not hesitate to eat those mints. i have some too, they are great, rather expensive though.

big difference between corn derived and birch derived xylitol btw, i have found the birch to be much sweeter. Twice as expensive again though. Great price on your mints Russ!

Thanks for the info.

I actually love Xylitol, more than stevia. It seems to have a broader range sweet flavor closer to conventional sugar whereas stevia is sharper and—what I call—narrow band.

The Xylitol does not make my mouth sticky or get plaque. My mouth actually feels cleaner after I eat the mints. Not so with sugar.

Very cool. A real-life guiltless candy!

It's really really good in baked goods, breads, cookies etc.

I'm so happy to hear that it works with baking. My husband is hooked on the mints!! He likes the mouthwash, too.

I don't care for stevia -- like Russ said -- narrow band...

I'm thinking of getting my amalgams removed, so maybe the xylitol will help with that process. Thanks for the input!

Yea, I am thinking about it too.

A lot of thinking, very little action.... so expensive.

Xylitol, the very very best for baking. Sugar does not compare for flavor.

Haven't actually tried the stevia, it's still in the garden, I like the taste of the leaves though. Seems pretty simple to drop a few into a cup of tea or lemonade.

Please let us know how the fresh stevia works for you. I'm not a fan of the powdered, but would be very interested in the fresh. ; )

Have a look at this link

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10403818

Yes, this is a very good point. Just like chocolate can kill cats, xylitol should not be given to dogs. This fact surfaced in our research on this product and is soon to be placed on our Only The Best Herbs website.

Xylitol has been thoroughly tested on humans for years and we have seen no side effects. Even with children there are no known issues. It's considered completely safe for all humans.

According to information published in 2 different veterinary science journals, xylitol should NOT be given to dogs. As Russ mentioned, we will be making information on Xylitol available on our website soon.

In the meantime, here is the warning as we have it written in our information:



There have been no side-effects reported in humans (even small children), with the exception of some first-time users who may experience an initial mild laxative effect that subsides with continued use. It appears that in some people, the body’s digestive enzymes go through an initial adjustment to regular xylitol intake.

Hope this information helps. I was very impressed by the research I did on Xylitol and can't wait to make it available to everyone. We'll keep you posted and let you know when it's available.

hmm, that's interesting. wonder why it's harmful to dogs.

well one of them t-bones would surely kill me if I ate it like the dog did, guess that is the difference between us.

The fresh (right off the plant) stevia tastes great btw very similar to xylitol, I like the green dried powered leaf version also, dislike the white concentrated version very much (bitter). A couple samples of the dried (green and white versions) stuff came with the plants. They are doing wonderfully in the garden, mix some sand into the soil with them and water well. Full sun. The cuttings took about 3 weeks to get going and now enjoy full sun again too.

WHenever I see people who dont like stevia i am blown away. I use it for everything. it took TIME to get used to it. now i do not taste this bad flavor people talk about

take the time to learn to like things you dont and soon you will have more to like than you ever had before.

stevia is awesome.. do NOT post that you hate it.. just let it go.. putting negative comments out about it is the last thing diabetics who want it LEGALIZED need.

stevia is GREAT and stfu

Well 4 little plants doing great by mid-July. The bugs don't seem to care for it, not a single leaf nibbled. I expected a pest invasion on them since they are sweet, but it didn't happen so that's a huge plus. I think probably they do not know what is is, they maybe haven't dveloped a taste for it. Requires very little care, likes to be watered mostly is all.

<img src="http://herballure.com/ubbthreads/attach/240543-268.jpg">

I have been plucking off stem leaves and tips to make the plants branch out a bit. I dry them in a little bowl on the kitchen table for about a week and then put into a jar. I am happy to report that only 3 little dried leaves sufficiently sweeten a cup of my favorite Chai (decaffinated) tea. By summers end from these 4 little plants, which grow bushy to a height of about 18-24", I should have enough stevia leaves to sweeten both my tea and spaghetti sauces throughout the winter and then some. I have even used it for baking... very good fresh and fresh dried, no bitter taste whatsoever. I'll make some autumn cuttings next month to take indoors for the winter, and also I have let them start to flower to collect seed. the directions that came with the plants say that the leaves are sweetest just before flowering but I haven't noticed any major taste difference between pre-flower, during or after. Plus I think one of my plants started flowering a bit early and no way was I going to cut the thing so soon.

Thanks for the info. I like the picture too.

I typically use Raw agave nectar to sweeten. After reading this I will indulge in Orbit gum as I believe the sweetener in it is xylitol.

Where can we buy the fresh Stevia, or the seeds?

I'm not sure about fresh stevia, but you can get ready-to-use stevia here:

Stevia

I got mine here:

http://www.herbaladvantage.com/

I think I am set for seeds and cuttings for a lifetime. I am totally gardened out for the season, bug city back there too many bites...

The pumpkin pie is tasty though..mmm... japanese pumpkin squashes, gee whiz good loaded 'em with brown sugar this time couldn't resist hope I survive it...

I'd put a photo here but i am too busy slothing around and stuffing my face till winter comes and I can going skiing for fun again. I need to gain back the last 10 lbs I lost from being sick in the spring so pumpkin pie and more pumpkin pie will help that. The garden was such a workout all summer I think I only managed about 4-5 lbs. I need about a month of slothing around with turkey and pie. we are doing an early thanksgiving tomorrow <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> We'll do a few before November... eat them squashes...

That is a good place for stevia plants btw, not sure if they mail out in the fall though.

Xylitol
It's great for special occasions like for baking birthday cakes,
I find it to be the best of all sweeteners.
And it is 7 times lower glycaemic load than regular white sugar,for those of you with bloodsugar problems...
Still not for every day use!
(When you are eating all natural foods like raw fruit &veg. you can really taste their sweetness,it's like pure sugar.)
Sunflower

only negative I can find about xylitol is some could be made from genetically modified corn. Not all of it is derived from corn though, so just research the brand.

I've been on a stevia kick lately. I make my own yogurt and kefir from raw milk and I let it get extra sour and probiotic and stevia liquid extract works so well with it and its been helping with my flora immensely.

How do you make yoghurt? I guess I can also look that up. I asked some time ago if anyone did their own fermenting. I think learning to do this stuff would be a great thing! I can't believe how much sugar is in yoghurt... (commercial)

I've tried sourdough bread in hopes it was something better, but maybe with spelt. For now, my body doesn't react well to it. But, again, only tried store bought. I do like kimchi...

There are two great books you should read Jeanie.

-Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
-Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz

This is where I learned everything when it comes to fermenting food, from kim-chi to sauerkraut to kombucha.

Both emphasize traditional method of preparing and storing food.

Thank you Gary. I actually own Nourishing Traditions. I forgot about that. Its what inspired me. I have a book on country living, too. The encyclpedia of it, I think. Tells you how to do all kinds of simple things we use to know how to do. We couldn't take care of ourselves without grocery stores now if our lives depended on it. (Or electricity). I think these are very wise skills to develop.

Are you still going to share your story with me?