Looking for a healthy sugar alternative for sweetening your beverages or for baking? Granular xylitol is the perfect solution! Granular xylitol has a low-glycemic index (7.0) and has 40% less calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar.
Granular xylitol is also a simple and easy way to care for teeth, especially for those who can’t use xylitol mints or gum.
In this short 3-minute video, Dr. Ellie explains why she loves granular xylitol for general health and more specifically for healthier teeth!
With all its many positive attributes, xylitol unfortunately has a downside for those unlucky enough to suffer from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and/ or SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth). Like all the sugar alcohol group, xylitol is a fermentable carb and can cause great digestive distress for people with these conditions, literally perpetuating the problem and hindering the body’s ability to heal the gut (http://digestivehealthinstitute.org/fast-tract-diet/).
After successfully using xylitol for dental issues for almost 2 years, I developed post-infectious IBS (after a bout of gastroenteritis 3 months ago) and experienced for myself the negative effect that sugar alcohols have on a compromised digestive system. I have had to reluctantly switch to granular erythritol, which appears to be available only in granular form, not in mints or gum. Even with erythritol, it’s better for my gut if I “swish and spit” the erythritol as much as possible instead of eventually swallowing it.
Dr Ellie, have you ever considered expanding Zellies to include products made from erythritol?
Thank you for your consideration,
Barbara
Barbara, I’m a dental hygienist that has done lots of research into pH and how it affects the teeth and the gut. Gut health, as you know is responsible for many chronic conditions. If you haven’t heard of hydrogen rich water and the benefit to gut health, you need to contact me….if you think it’s spam, just ignore the comment.
Thank you so much, Dr. Ellie. I have been using your system for over 3 years and love it. I just got out of braces and need to wear my retainer most of the day for 3 months. I was to told not to drink anything but water while the retainer is in. Do you think it would be okay for me to drink water with zellie crystals dissolved, while wearing my retainer? Thanks very very much for your input!
I expect this advice is an effort to protect you from damage caused by acidic drinks. But remember – even water CAN be acidic. To determine if water is acidic you need to test it’s pH. Some bottled waters like Evian and Fiji are alkaline (pH 7.4) but Dasani and most others are acidic. You can safely add xylitol to water to promote mouth health, but be aware it does NOT change the pH of water. Xylitol only alkalizes the mouth when it is eaten as a mint or directly as granules – without water. This is why we suggest Zellie’s mints after everything you eat or drink – even after water!
Thanks, Dr. Ellie!!!
I used my zellie mints ALL the time while wearing the braces! Now I will feel comfortable having the zellie mints while my retainer is on. I am so glad. Have a great day~
Zellie’s taste so delicious it’s hard to imagine they are so safe and GOOD for teeth! It is fine to eat Zellie’s at night – or when you cannot clean teeth. Yes, you should see only positive changes – even with the retainer. Please let me know if you have any more questions. Ellie