xylitol as a sugar sustitute...

PurpleJellyean

Does anyone have experience with it or building a tolerance for it? I was taking it before (got it from my Organic Health Food Store) but stopped for a couple months and during that time used Agave Nectar to sweetened coffee. I bought more Xylitol and used two packets this morning with my coffee and about two hours ago, I was really tired so had another coffee with this sweetener. Side note: I have had an afternoon coffee several times in the past so I know the following symptoms are not caffeine related...well I suppose they could in part be. Unfortunately ever since, I have been feeling anxious, jittery, stomach upset, and overall just feeling awful. I only had 1/2 the cup of coffee and dumped the rest. The box mentions (as I read after the fact) you have to build a tolerance to it! WTH?! So, I have been drinking lots of H20 and trying to flush this awful feeling out.

I really want to know if anyone has experience and/or knowledge in this stuff.

Thanks in advance!

niki30

I wouldn't use anything that isn't natural, xylitol has a laxative effect if consumed in large quantities. if you looking for a sugar substitute, try stevia or agave nectar.
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abyt42

This is not really related to your post, but I'm sharing that your topic line made me laugh because I read it as "vitriol as a sugar substitute."

Mindful_Trent

Unfortunately, as a sugar alcohol, xylitol is known to have a laxative/digestive-upset effect on people. Everyone's tolerance is different.

I personally prefer Stevia when I want a no-calorie sweetener - I buy pure stevia with no additives and that is produced without the use of chemicals, such as this type: http://www.amazon.com/Stevita-Co-Inc-Simply-Stevia/dp/B0018RR8Y0

It's VERY sweet - I barely add any to my coffee - may 1/16 or 1/32 of a tsp, and it tastes sweet.

rmsrws

Xylitol does not agree with me. It gives me one heck of a tummy ache and bloating! I have not noticed hyperness, or anything else other than the extreme digestive upsett!!

rmsrws

Xylitol does not agree with me. It gives me one heck of a tummy ache and bloating! I have not noticed hyperness, or anything else other than the extreme digestive upsett!!

PurpleJellyean

Hmmm, yes, I think I am sensitive to it for sure. I have tried Stevia before but the after taste was awful (|I hate black licorice). Any way to avoid after taste than with Stevie? Also, it the dropper or powder form the best?

Funny how you read the topic line. lol I see I spelled it "sustitute"...go me! haha

Mindful_Trent

Hmmm, yes, I think I am sensitive to it for sure. I have tried Stevia before but the after taste was awful (|I hate black licorice). Any way to avoid after taste than with Stevie? Also, it the dropper or powder form the best?

Funny how you read the topic line. lol I see I spelled it "sustitute"...go me! haha

I actually don't notice any aftertaste with the pure stevia, unless you use way too much of it... I do notice more of the aftertaste with the normal commercial stevia products that have additional fillers/additives. I also find with stuff like this your taste buds adjust after awhile and you get used to it.

crisanderson27

Hmmm, yes, I think I am sensitive to it for sure. I have tried Stevia before but the after taste was awful (|I hate black licorice). Any way to avoid after taste than with Stevie? Also, it the dropper or powder form the best?

Funny how you read the topic line. lol I see I spelled it "sustitute"...go me! haha

I actually don't notice any aftertaste with the pure stevia, unless you use way too much of it... I do notice more of the aftertaste with the normal commercial stevia products that have additional fillers/additives. I also find with stuff like this your taste buds adjust after awhile and you get used to it.

Good post...I like Stevia on my rice/corn chex etc...which is about the only thing I ever used to use regular sugar on anyhow. We don't even own a bag of sugar...and my kids have never noticed the lack. Growing up, it was one of my parents biggest expenses lol.

Anyhow, back on topic...I notice with the stevia I get at wal mart, there is a distinct bitterish aftertaste. It's still worth using, but I'll have to try some of the pure stevia instead. It'd be even better without the additional, unwanted 'flavor' lol =D.

Cris

Mindful_Trent

Hmmm, yes, I think I am sensitive to it for sure. I have tried Stevia before but the after taste was awful (|I hate black licorice). Any way to avoid after taste than with Stevie? Also, it the dropper or powder form the best?

Funny how you read the topic line. lol I see I spelled it "sustitute"...go me! haha

I actually don't notice any aftertaste with the pure stevia, unless you use way too much of it... I do notice more of the aftertaste with the normal commercial stevia products that have additional fillers/additives. I also find with stuff like this your taste buds adjust after awhile and you get used to it.

Good post...I like Stevia on my rice/corn chex etc...which is about the only thing I ever used to use regular sugar on anyhow. We don't even own a bag of sugar...and my kids have never noticed the lack. Growing up, it was one of my parents biggest expenses lol.

Anyhow, back on topic...I notice with the stevia I get at wal mart, there is a distinct bitterish aftertaste. It's still worth using, but I'll have to try some of the pure stevia instead. It'd be even better without the additional, unwanted 'flavor' lol =D.

Cris

I linked to it above, but in case you missed it, here's the brand I recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Stevita-Co-Inc-Simply-Stevia/dp/B0018RR8Y0
(It's much cheaper to buy off amazon than to try and find pure stevia in local stores...)

PurpleJellyean

Yes, sugar is only here in the house for the odd guest who wants it in their coffee.

Thanks Trent for posting the link (twice) as I am interested now in checking it out. Cheap too! Woot!

1234lbsgone

Xylitol is used as a sugar substitute? Weird, never heard of it.

However, in the peds clinic I used to work in, a resident did her research on Xylitol for prevention of tooth decay in children lacking enamel formation as well as in normal children with dental carries. Its wonderful. I asked her about side effects, she said there are none as long as you don't swallow it. So, that being said, I'd say stevia, agave, maple syrup, rice syrup, and real sugar should stick to sweetening my sweet tooth, and xylitol should stick to my mouthwash.

Atlantique

I think I'm the only person in the world who still happily uses aspartame. :laugh:

But for those who use xylitol, please be aware that it can quickly kill your dog. No sharing anything that might have xylitol in it or on it! If you even suspect that the dog MIGHT have gotten into something with xylitol, rush to the emergency vet--yes, they die that quickly.

BaconMD

Does anyone have experience with it or building a tolerance for it? I was taking it before (got it from my Organic Health Food Store) but stopped for a couple months and during that time used Agave Nectar to sweetened coffee. I bought more Xylitol and used two packets this morning with my coffee and about two hours ago, I was really tired so had another coffee with this sweetener. Side note: I have had an afternoon coffee several times in the past so I know the following symptoms are not caffeine related...well I suppose they could in part be. Unfortunately ever since, I have been feeling anxious, jittery, stomach upset, and overall just feeling awful. I only had 1/2 the cup of coffee and dumped the rest. The box mentions (as I read after the fact) you have to build a tolerance to it! WTH?! So, I have been drinking lots of H20 and trying to flush this awful feeling out.

I really want to know if anyone has experience and/or knowledge in this stuff.

Thanks in advance!

I know this thread is old, so apologies if people here get mad at old posts resurfacing..

But anyhow, I discovered xylitol in early 2007 and have been using it ever since. It didn't take me long to build a tolerance to it (in fact, I don't recall having to do so), but then again, I don't use it all that much. My wife and I have completely replaced sugar with it, but we never used sugar much to begin with - some rare baking, some salads, etc. but nothing too crazy (during our unhealthy days, we bought pre-made garbage food with all the sugar already in it, now we just don't eat it).

Primarily, I use it in my coffee, practically every day - two teaspoons in a cup. The taste is better than sugar, I find, as it has that slight cooling effect whereas I find sugar tastes dry. I've tried various stevias and have yet to taste one that was good and didn't taste like an artificial chemical sweetener.

There are so many positive health effects of xylitol that I find it hard to even consider using anything but. It remineralises tooth enamel, it's anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, there are promising studies into improving bone density, safe for diabetics, lower calorie than sugar, etc.

Anyhow, I don't think I'd blame feeling jittery or anxious on xylitol. If anything, it would be from the caffeine. Xylitol isn't toxic to humans, and the only negative side effects you should ever experience are the laxative effect or bloating, that's IT. I use it, my wife uses it, her mom uses it (and bakes full-on deserts like cakes and crap with it - I've made cookies once, they were AWESOME), and her aunt uses it. My sister also used it before she went out to South Korea to teach. Last time we bought it, we got a 50lb bag of it and shared it with my mother-in-law. It's about time to re-order, actually..

Are you sure your feelings were even related to the coffee? If you were feeling tired, you probably should have went to bed instead of having a cup of coffee. But believe me, I know the addiction... I have hundreds, maybe thousands, of K-cups in my kitchen... I've got more varieties in my kitchen than all the stores in town combined...

But for those who use xylitol, please be aware that it can quickly kill your dog. No sharing anything that might have xylitol in it or on it! If you even suspect that the dog MIGHT have gotten into something with xylitol, rush to the emergency vet--yes, they die that quickly.

Luckily, I don't have a dog. Unluckily, I don't think xylitol will solve my cat problem...