There are a lot of sugar substitutes today. There are sweeteners of artificial origin - these are aspartame, saccharin and many others. There are much more useful and similar substances in origin - fructose, mannitol, maltitol, isomalt, xylitol and sorbitol. Today we will talk about the last two. What is xylitol and sorbitol, how do they affect the body, what are their pros and cons - we’ll talk about this today.
How suitable are they for replacing sweets during the diet? Are they useful for the body, or is their intake a necessary measure if sugar cannot be processed? There are many questions, let's understand.
Sorbitol
What is xylitol and sorbitol? These are natural sweeteners that are obtained from plant materials. In fact, it is sugar, only differing in its effect on the body. Sorbitol was first isolated from mountain ash, in addition, this substance is found in large quantities in seaweed, some fruits. When fully ripened, sorbitol in fruits is gradually converted to fructose. That is why the latter is cheaper and more common.
Sorbitol has no industrial value, since it is almost twice as sweet as sugar. However, their caloric value is almost the same. If you are on a diet to lose weight, then replacing sugar with sorbitol will not do any good. It is especially important to know what xylitol and sorbitol are for diabetics. Sorbitol does not cause such a sharp release of insulin. In addition, it has a number of positive properties. Sorbitol activates the gastrointestinal tract, helps the body economically consume B vitamins. These two points are interconnected, because it is in the intestine that these essential elements are synthesized and absorbed. With its regular use, intestinal microflora improves .
Xylitol
We continue to consider what xylitol and sorbitol are. Now in line is the food supplement E967, or xylitol. It is a five-atom alcohol, which contains almost all fruit and vegetable crops. If we compare sugar and xylitol in calories and sweetness, we can say that they are almost the same. Once in the body, xylitol does not cause a sharp release of insulin into the blood, which allows it to be used for the preparation of diabetic products. Another attractive point is the anti-caries effect. This substance gives sweetness to chewing gums and toothpaste. Xylitol is obtained for the most part from ears of corn and cotton husk. Xylitol is widely used as a dietary supplement in the treatment of obesity and diabetes.
It is interesting that this sweetener activates metabolic reactions in the body (which is why it is recommended during a diet), does not change the level of sugar in the blood and helps to prevent oral diseases. Separately, it should be noted a slight laxative effect. If you are concerned about this fact, you should reduce the intake of this supplement.
Xylitol or sorbitol: which is better?
Each of these substances has its pros and cons. Focusing on this and taking into account the needs of your body, you can make the right choice. We examined what sorbitol and xylitol are. Both of these substances of natural origin are close to sugar in calories, but xylitol is much superior to sorbitol in sweetness, which means that its consumption will be higher. Sorbitol is practically non-toxic, but if consumed by analogy with sugar, then the calorie content will be very decent.
In this regard, xylitol greatly defeats him. Being an analogue of sugar in terms of sweetness, it allows you to reduce the consumption of the product and not increase the calorie content of ready meals. In addition, xylitol stimulates the secretion of bile, improves bowel movement and has a diuretic property. Xylitol reduces the amount of saturated fatty acids entering the bloodstream. Having an idea of what sorbitol and xylitol are, you can make a choice for yourself.
Benefit or harm
So, instead of sugar in the kitchen you can keep natural sweeteners, such as fructose, xylitol, sorbitol. Their benefits and harms mainly depend on the correctly calculated dosage. The maximum amount of substance consumed per day is 50 g. However, you need to know that when consuming more than 30 g per day, there is a risk of developing an intestinal upset and gastric function, cholecystitis develops or worsens. Therefore, it is better to opt for xylitol. It is sweeter and it will be harder for you to exceed the dosage.
With the uncontrolled use of sorbitol, severe headaches, upset stomach, nausea and bloating are observed. Xylitol in large quantities causes chronic diarrhea and swelling of the bladder.
Tubation of the gallbladder
This is a kind of cleansing of the bile ducts. Increased contraction of the gallbladder frees it from excess bile. Please note that this event can only be carried out if there are no stones in the gallbladder and ducts. Be sure to get an ultrasound scan. In order to do this procedure at home, it is not necessary to buy expensive drugs. Tubing with xylitol or sorbitol can be easily carried out. To do this, you need a glass of warm water, in which you need to dilute a tablespoon of one or the other. Next, you need to lie on your right side and attach a heating pad to the right hypochondrium. Drink water in half an hour. The procedure must be performed in the morning, on an empty stomach. A positive effect can be determined by the color of the chair, it should be greenish.
To summarize
If you have diabetes, you can choose between these two substances and use them as a substitute for regular sugar. But remember that sorbitol is less sweet, which means that its consumption will be higher. Moreover, the maximum dose per day is 50 g. Xylitol is almost twice as sweet. For people who monitor their weight, it will be preferable for this reason. In addition, xylitol has a number of positive characteristics. Do not forget that his daily intake is also limited.