Xylitol - Is it Safe?

[Gimpy]

Since I've gone gluten free, I no longer eat cookies and cakes formerly containing wheat flour. So in experimenting, my spouse finally approved a gluten free cookie recipe. So I consider that change falling in the category of change without sacrifice. I will continue to encourage change that is acceptable to my spouse. I don't see that as forcing change.

In trying to change myself, I've come across terrible tasting food that I could not will myself to like. Sometimes food just tastes bad to a person. I had to change the recipe of bone broth, with very helpful suggestions of members here. Now I have a bone broth that tastes good to me.

None of us can change everything at once, even if we had the all the knowledge of what to change. It appears the consensus of the top things to do are: elimination of gluten and dairy, removal of mercury fillings and detox, and very low carbohydrate diet with high amounts of animal fat. So I'm trying to make the changes that I can handle, while dealing with the attacks from the control system and raising young children.

An analogy that comes to mind if someone who has very limited experience in trying foods of different cultures. Slowly that person wants to try different foods that they haven't really had, such as Indian, Greek, Chinese, Vietnamese food, and I know there is really good food in all those cultures. But the person tries perhaps one Indian dish or several, and doesn't like it. I'd say ok you tried some bad ones, now let's go try some others, I know there's great Indian food and we're going to find it. And in this process eventually we find the great Indian, Greek, Chinese, Vietnamese food. I don't think that in this situation that I forced the person to like these different foods.

I think my spouse might take a year to change some of the important things like gluten, or maybe it will take 2 or 3 or 4 years. I think we will get there, and sooner in life than many others. I'm trying to cultivate a mindset that there is time, there's no rush, while acting quickly when I see the opportunity.

Expecting to 'steer' your spouse to modify eating habits can backfire on you. With my Hubby, I didn't bother. Instead I changed my diet and he saw clear evidence on what worked, and what didn't. People can become stubborn beyond reason when it comes to diet, and I was no different when I began to experiment with diet several years ago. The big difference for me? What I was eating, and not eating, was wrecking my health. If you have a chronic or serious health issue? Going slow is important.

FWIW, I can't use xylitol at all. Even on a KD diet, it tears me up as bad as dairy does. This leads me to think its an allergy based intolerance more than bacteria or other issues. The only sweetner that's tolerated is stevia, and I like using the leaves right off the plants when possible. When in doubt? Don't eat it.

 

[Carl]

Since I've gone gluten free, I no longer eat cookies and cakes formerly containing wheat flour. So in experimenting, my spouse finally approved a gluten free cookie recipe. So I consider that change falling in the category of change without sacrifice. I will continue to encourage change that is acceptable to my spouse. I don't see that as forcing change.
...
I think my spouse might take a year to change some of the important things like gluten, or maybe it will take 2 or 3 or 4 years. I think we will get there, and sooner in life than many others. I'm trying to cultivate a mindset that there is time, there's no rush, while acting quickly when I see the opportunity.

Expecting to 'steer' your spouse to modify eating habits can backfire on you. With my Hubby, I didn't bother. Instead I changed my diet and he saw clear evidence on what worked, and what didn't. People can become stubborn beyond reason when it comes to diet, and I was no different when I began to experiment with diet several years ago. The big difference for me? What I was eating, and not eating, was wrecking my health. If you have a chronic or serious health issue? Going slow is important.

Agreed, you can't really steer anyone so much as you can simply demonstrate a different road, and be an example of it. And if you think about it, it's pretty selfish to try to steer somebody else's choices. And I know it can be hell watching somebody you care about suffer health problems or mood swings that are so easily cured by this diet, but they have to make the choice themselves. Expecting that she will change at all is a bad place to start.

On the topic of xylitol, I've noticed recently that it gives me pretty noticeable brain fog. Since I don't really enjoy stevia, I think it's a sign to use this opportunity to completely get rid of sweet comfort foods for a while and see how I feel.

 

[1984]

On the topic of xylitol, I've noticed recently that it gives me pretty noticeable brain fog. Since I don't really enjoy stevia, I think it's a sign to use this opportunity to completely get rid of sweet comfort foods for a while and see how I feel.

I can't eat anything with xylitol in it - it gives me a screaming headache with just one bite.

 

[Solar]

I wash my mouth with xylitol-water after brushing teeth. I dissolve 1 teaspoon of xylitol in half a glass of water.
At the same time I aim to reduce carbs. The question is if some extra carbs get absorbed by washing your mouth with xylitol-water, or is it negligible? Sorry if this was already asked in another thread.

 

[Laura]

I wash my mouth with xylitol-water after brushing teeth. I dissolve 1 teaspoon of xylitol in half a glass of water.
At the same time I aim to reduce carbs. The question is if some extra carbs get absorbed by washing your mouth with xylitol-water, or is it negligible? Sorry if this was already asked in another thread.

Why don't you just use xylitol toothpaste?

 

[Pierre]

I wash my mouth with xylitol-water after brushing teeth. I dissolve 1 teaspoon of xylitol in half a glass of water.
At the same time I aim to reduce carbs. The question is if some extra carbs get absorbed by washing your mouth with xylitol-water, or is it negligible? Sorry if this was already asked in another thread.

According to this study, glucose is absorbed through oral mucosal areas. I didn't find any article dealing specifically with the oral absorption of xylitol though.

 

[SeekinTruth]

I wash my mouth with xylitol-water after brushing teeth. I dissolve 1 teaspoon of xylitol in half a glass of water.
At the same time I aim to reduce carbs. The question is if some extra carbs get absorbed by washing your mouth with xylitol-water, or is it negligible? Sorry if this was already asked in another thread.

According to this study, glucose is absorbed through oral mucosal areas. I didn't find any article dealing specifically with the oral absorption of xylitol though.

In any case, one teaspoon of xylito is 4 grams of carbs (just like sucrose table sugar), so whatever is absorbed will be negligible if your carb intake is very low. Just for your information, as you lower carbs below the 40 to 50 grams per day range - if that's what you're aiming for.

 

[Solar]

I wash my mouth with xylitol-water after brushing teeth. I dissolve 1 teaspoon of xylitol in half a glass of water.
At the same time I aim to reduce carbs. The question is if some extra carbs get absorbed by washing your mouth with xylitol-water, or is it negligible? Sorry if this was already asked in another thread.

Why don't you just use xylitol toothpaste?

I used to use a xylitol toothpaste, but it had a lot of artificial ingredients, some of them sounded evil, so I figured I'd be better off with a toothpaste with mostly natural ingredients. I found one, but it does not have xylitol, that's why I use xylitol-water instead.

My old toothpaste (SANTE Dental Med Toothpaste Myrrhe natural organic):
Aqua (Water), Calcium Carbonate, Xylitol, Glycerin, Silica, Commiphora Abyssinica Resin Extract / Commiphora Abyssinica (Myrrh Extract), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aroma (Flavor), Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Hectorite, Xanthan Gum, Algin, Maris Sal (Sea Salt), Bisabolol, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)

The new one (Apeiron Auromère Ayurvedic Herbal-Toothpaste)
Calcium Carbonate, Aqua, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Glyzyrrhiza glabra bark*, Silica, Melia azadirachta bark*, Salvadora persica root*, Punica granatum pericarp*, Zizyphus jujuba fruit*, Syzygium jambolana bark*, Eugenia caryophyllus bark*, Juglans regia shell*, Barleria prionitis bark*, Prunus amygdalus shell*, Terminalia sericea nut*, Quercus infectoria bark*, Zanthoxylum americanum bark*, Zanthoxylum alatum bark*, Caesalpinia sappans bark*, Rubia cordifolia bark*, Acacia catechu bark*, Smilax aristolochiaefolia bark*, Cinnamomum ceylanicum bark*, Mimusops elangi bark*, Anacyclus pyrethrum bark*, Carum copticum flower*, Geranium maculatum flower*, Thymus vulgaris seed*, Mentha piperita leave**, Mentha viridis leave**, Eucalyptus globulus leave**, Pimpinella anisum seed**, Chondrus crispus, konserviert mit: Sodium Benzoate
* extract
** oil

 

[JGeropoulas]

Xylitol nasal irrigation is effective and superior to saline irrigation in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/xylitol-nasal-irrigation-effective-and-superior-saline-irrigation-management-chronic

Abstract Title:

Xylitol nasal irrigation in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis: A pilot study.
Abstract Source:

Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores reported at the beginning and end of each irrigation course.

RESULTS: Fifteen of the 20 subjects (75%) returned their SNOT-20 and VAS data for analysis. There was a significant reduction in SNOT-20 score during the xylitol phase of irrigation

Thanks for all this research and discussion, especially this one. I've been using both saline and xylitol with some benefits, but now, looks like if I leave out the saline, the results will be even better.

Glad researchers can find a way to inject a little humor into their tedious labors: "SNOT" test ;D

 

[daddycat]

I found a brand of xylitol that has passed my spouse's tests. It is the Xyla brand, by the company Xylitol USA. It is actually on the shelves in grocery stores around here. It is made from North American trees.

I would've never thought that different brands of xylitol would have such a noticeable difference in taste.

 

[HowToBe]

I used to use a xylitol toothpaste, but it had a lot of artificial ingredients, some of them sounded evil, so I figured I'd be better off with a toothpaste with mostly natural ingredients. I found one, but it does not have xylitol, that's why I use xylitol-water instead.

A local store here sells Earthpaste, which is great as far as ingredients go, not so much on price though. Here:
_http://www.redmondtrading.com/product-category/earthpaste-natural-toothpaste/

 

[Jacques]

I used to use a xylitol toothpaste, but it had a lot of artificial ingredients, some of them sounded evil, so I figured I'd be better off with a toothpaste with mostly natural ingredients. I found one, but it does not have xylitol, that's why I use xylitol-water instead.

A local store here sells Earthpaste, which is great as far as ingredients go, not so much on price though. Here:
_http://www.redmondtrading.com/product-category/earthpaste-natural-toothpaste/

That's the one that I'm using and it is a great one.

However I buy it from _http://well.ca/products/redmond-earthpaste-amazingly_60996.html. It is a bit cheaper.

 

[Beau]

I read through this thread, and I don't see any mention of the complaint I have with xylitol. I finally realized that xylitol was the culprit behind my runny nose. I didn't have a cold, and I was not cold, but for a long time my nose would run all day and it was really driving me nuts. I cut out xylitol for some time, no fat bombs or any in drinks. I noticed that it stopped the nasal draining. After reintroduction, the draining started again. So I am just consigned to eliminate xylitol, unless there's some other reason why xylitol is causing my sinuses to drain (they aren't congested). Does anyone know why xylitol causes nasal drainage? I know it's mentioned as useful for sinus irrigation, but for me it's happening when I DON'T want it to. I'm gonna do some research to see if there's info out on the net about it. Does anyone else notice this affect from xylitol?

 

[1984]

I read through this thread, and I don't see any mention of the complaint I have with xylitol. I finally realized that xylitol was the culprit behind my runny nose. I didn't have a cold, and I was not cold, but for a long time my nose would run all day and it was really driving me nuts. I cut out xylitol for some time, no fat bombs or any in drinks. I noticed that it stopped the nasal draining. After reintroduction, the draining started again. So I am just consigned to eliminate xylitol, unless there's some other reason why xylitol is causing my sinuses to drain (they aren't congested). Does anyone know why xylitol causes nasal drainage? I know it's mentioned as useful for sinus irrigation, but for me it's happening when I DON'T want it to. I'm gonna do some research to see if there's info out on the net about it. Does anyone else notice this affect from xylitol?

I've researched Xylitol in the past because of the side effects I get ingesting it. There doesn't seem to be much out there on it. I don't get the nasal thing but it gives me an immediate headache. Even a teeny bit of it and I have a pounding top-of-my head headache. I stay away from it but I'm probably not the norm. :)

 

[Laura]

I read through this thread, and I don't see any mention of the complaint I have with xylitol. I finally realized that xylitol was the culprit behind my runny nose. I didn't have a cold, and I was not cold, but for a long time my nose would run all day and it was really driving me nuts. I cut out xylitol for some time, no fat bombs or any in drinks. I noticed that it stopped the nasal draining. After reintroduction, the draining started again. So I am just consigned to eliminate xylitol, unless there's some other reason why xylitol is causing my sinuses to drain (they aren't congested). Does anyone know why xylitol causes nasal drainage? I know it's mentioned as useful for sinus irrigation, but for me it's happening when I DON'T want it to. I'm gonna do some research to see if there's info out on the net about it. Does anyone else notice this affect from xylitol?

Yup. That's something that I've noticed over a period of time of use: xylitol causes phlegm. I was surprised to discover this, but it's been confirmed by several tests. The other thing that causes me phlegm is dairy along with a lot of other unpleasant symptoms including painful joints. Xylitol doesn't do all that, but the phlegm seems to be a warning signal.

I've given it up. I can use erythritol, but it, too, causes SOME phlegm, though a lot less.

We've discussed just going back to using very limited amounts of raw sugar or honey in anything that really needs to be sweetened and just making sure that we keep track of carbs. It makes you have to reduce your amount of anything with sugar or honey in it, but we don't eat much of that sort of thing anyway.