Sugar Substitute?
I have recently been experimenting using a different sugar
or what is sometimes called a sugar substitute. The name of this sugar is,
Xylitol. Although some do consider it a substitute it still is a sugar, just a sugar
alcohol. Xylitol unlike normal sugar is absorbed into the body slower which
reduces a spike in glucose levels and that “sugar crash” we all try to avoid.
It is also lower in calories and has numerous other health benefits such as
reducing tooth decay, and I don’t think we can say that for normal sugar.
Xylitol is derived from birch bark and is commonly used in a
variety of products you may already use. With all the positive benefits
consumers do need to be cautious as this sugar alcohol does not always agree
with everyone so best to start using it in small doses, or if your baking with
it start with one cookie at a time and not 10.
From a baking perspective this is a great alternative for a
sweetener. I decided to give it a whirl and used Xylitol in my pumpkin fudgy
flax bars and they turned out great! Xylitol and sugar have a 1-1 ratio so
there is no stress trying to figure out how much to use in a recipe, you just sub it in instead of the sugar. Good luck
experimenting, send me an email or post on Facebook I would love to hear
how you are make out.