With the increasing rate of diabetes, obesity, and cases of heart disease every year, consumers opt to use sugar alternatives and other sugar substitutes to address such issues and help in weight management. Two of the most common alternatives are Erythritol and Xylitol – sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols can be naturally found in various fruits and vegetables’ fibrous components. Manufacturers were able to adapt sugar alcohols by adding hydrogen atoms to these products. Hence, the result is the sugar alcohol that is similar to sugar in terms of sweetness but almost half of the fraction of its calorie content. Let’s find out which is the best sugar substitute to use among the two.
The Healthier Choice
Erythritol– sold as tabletop sweeteners that are mostly used in beverages. It is usually added to packaged foods and can also be used in baking. Erythritol can be found in pears and melons. Erythritol can be fully absorbed by our body compared to Xylitol. However, because of its chemical structure, our body can’t break it down so virtually, it gives no calories and do not result to the glycemic response. Xylitol can cause gastric distress more compared to Erythritol. Chewing gums with Erythritol promote saliva production thus, lessening the cavity-stimulating effects of sugar. This sugar alcohol gets absorbed into our bloodstream but does not affect our blood sugar and insulin levels. It does not also affect biomarkers such as cholesterol and triglycerides. Hence, people with diabetes or are overweight and suffering from metabolism issues consider Erythritol an excellent substitute to sugar.
Xylitol – This is mostly recommended by many dentists because of its ability to strengthen and re-mineralize teeth and gums. They can be found in “tooth-friendly” products because they cannot be digested by bacteria. This sugar alcohol is made from hardwood trees, grown in the U.S. Xylitol also offers sweetness like Erythritol with fewer calories compared to table sugar or sucrose. It is available in packets and can be used daily for sweetening beverages. However, some people would complain that it causes them diarrhea and bloating which is a common issue with most of the sugar alcohols. Xylitol is guaranteed safe for persons with diabetes and can be mixed freely with other sugar.
The Final Verdict
Both of these alternative sweeteners Erythritol and Xylitol add up to the “reward value” of our beverages and foods making us eat more. According to researchers, the amount of rewarding foods contributes to the increasing rate of obesity. Both of these alcohol sugars are FDA approved ensuring everyone they are safer to use, but always keep in mind that every product that is consumed too much can also affect the body and may impose health risks later on. Erythritol and Xylitol are safe and healthier substitute but must be used in moderation.
