Pur Inspirations

First an apology for the lack of posts here lately! Christian & I finally set a date for the wedding and I’ve been doing some planning for the big day. Between that and getting my Healthy Lifestyle Coaching Program & In-Home Cooking Classes planned, I’ve been pretty busy. Hope you guys will check out my new Services page to see what those are about! Now for Natural Sweetener #3:

Xylitol is another of the natural sugar alcohols and it is found in fruits and vegetables. It has no effect on blood glucose levels, so it’s safe for diabetics, but it can cause some side effects. Xylitol is not absorbed by the body and therefore can cause some very unpleasant effects: gas, bloating, etc. I can only use it in very small amounts, so I haven’t been using it in too many recipes lately. I have been buying some great products, though, that contain it as a sweetener, like Nature’s Hollow Strawberry Preserves. It has only 20 calories per tablespoon and it tastes great!

Xylitol has the added bonus of having beneficial effects on dental health. It is proven to be effective against tooth decay and is therefore being used as a sweetener for toothpaste, chewing gum, and mints.

Important note for dog owners: Xylitol, even in very small amounts, can be very harmful to dogs. Be sure to keep any foods, mints, toothpaste, etc. out of reach of your dogs.