Homestead Market Blog: Health Tips and Product Insights

What is Xylitol? Pure xylitol is a white, crystalline, natural substance that looks and tastes like sugar. On food labels, xylitol is classified broadly as a carbohydrate and more narrowly as a polyol. Because xylitol is only slowly absorbed and partially utilized, a reduced calorie claim is allowed: 2.4 calories per gram or 40% less than other sugars. Xylitol has been used in foods since the 1960s. It is a popular sweetener for the diabetic diet in many countries. In the U.S., xy …