by
Sherill Sellman
From:
The SPECTRUM Vol. 4 No. 8; February 2003, p.23 -- www.thespectrumnews.org
Editor's
note: Considering the quantity of sugar we all consume in
one way or another each day, sometimes not by choice, the
following is perhaps the most important health article to
come along in quite some time, and should be shared as widely
as possible with family and friends of ALL ages.
Many
of you readers of this publication are quite familiar with
the various business and "health" reasons why
the New World Order gang of misfits have long been promoting
sugar (and even nastier artificial sweeteners) to help with
their sinister control and depopulation agendas. Obviously,
on the way to ruining our physical and mental health, a
lot of money can be made through "managing" medical
problems resulting from these "sweet" poisons.
Therefore, when you read the following, you'll easily "connect
the dots " and see why Xylitol is not a part of our
familiar vocabulary-but should be!
This
is reprinted from the January-February 2003 issue of NEXUS
magazine (www.nexusmagazine.com; phone: 1-888-909-7474)
and we are grateful to them for helping to bring this subject
to public attention.
Likewise,
it was our News Desk guru (and retired dentist), Dr. Al
Overholt, who originally identified this article for the
News Desk. When you get to the part of Xylitol's astonishing
benefits to the mouth and teeth, you'll see what may have
acted as a strong factor in Dr. Overholt's decision to want
to share this information with you.
This
article was written by Sherrill Sellman of GetWell International,
P.O. Box 690416, Tulsa, OK 74169-0416. (See the end of the
article for further biographical and contacting information.)
Sherrill deserves loud applause for assembling an easy-tounderstand
and well-documented dissertation on this important health
matter having obvious far-ranging implications. Perhaps
copies of this article should be available in the waiting
rooms of all dentist's and doctor's offices.
© 2002 Sherill Sellman
Xylitol
is not only a safe, natural sweetener without the bad side-effects
of sugar and artificial substitutes, it's also good for
your teeth, stabilizes insulin and hormone levels, and promotes
good health.
Americans
have a mighty hankering for sugar. It seems that we just
can't get enough of the stuff. On average, a half a cup
of sugar is consumed per person every day. It is estimated
that the average American eats, drinks, slurps, stirs, and
sprinkles about 150 pounds of it annually. Never in modern
history has a culture consumed so much sugar.
Sugar
truly does deserve its reputation as a "white poison".
Thinking of sugar as a food is really a stretch of the imagination,
because it is more a chemical that is difficult for our
bodies to utilize and digest.
Humans
were really not designed to eat large amounts of sugar in
whatever form it may take: white and brown, corn syrup,
sucrose, dextrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose,
barley malt, honey, rice syrup, and maple syrup. Sugar is
also highly seductive, acting like an addictive drug that
lures even the most well-intentioned person back into its
sweet clutches.
According
to Chinese wisdom, sweetness is one of the flavors necessary
for maintaining balance in the body.
[Editor's
note: The concept of sweetness" referred to here likely
means alkalinity, as in the acid-alkaline balance within
the body that was a major topic of Edgar Cayce's medical
discourses while in trance. In that respect, Cayce's wisdom
would agree with the ancient Chinese wisdom-but the advice
is actually OPPOSITE the implied conclusion. That is, you
want to eat ACIDIC things, like citrus, to produce an alkaline
REACTION in the body to keep it slightly on the "sweet"
side.
This
matter has long been a subject of obvious confusion for
Cayce readers,who often "get it backwards" until
they understand the actual reactions of body chemistry he
was talking about. And that same concept is likely what
the ancient Chinese medical wisdom meant by "sweetness"
within the body.]
But
regularly eating large amounts of sugar will cause serious
harm. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia and weight gain, leading
to diabetes and obesity in both children and adults. It
leaches the body of vital minerals and vitamins. It raises
blood pressure, triglycerides, and the bad cholesterol (LDL),
increasing the risk of heart disease. It causes tooth decay
and periodontal disease, which leads to tooth loss and systemic
infections. It makes it difficult for a child's brain to
learn, resulting in a lack of concentration. Both children
and adults exhibit disruptive behavior, learning disorders,
and forgetfulness from sugar consumption. It initiates auto-immune
and immune deficiency disorders such as arthritis, allergies,
and asthma. It also upsets hormonal balance and supports
the growth of cancer cells.
So
what are we to do? Will our sugar cravings always hold us
hostage, or is there really a way to lick the sugar habit
successfully?
Xylitol To The Rescue!
During
World War II, Finland was suffering from an acute sugar
shortage. With no domestic supply of sugar, the Finns searched
for an alternative. It was then that the Finnish scientists
rediscovered xylitol, a low-calorie sugar made from birch
bark. It had, in fact, been known to the world of organic
chemistry since it was first manufactured in 1891 by a German
chemist.
By
1930, xylitol had been purified, but it wasn't until World
War II that the sugar shortages forced researchers to look
at alternative sweeteners. It was only when xylitol was
stabilized that it became a viable sweetener in foods. It
was also during this time that researchers discovered xylitol's
insulin-independent nature. (It metabolizes in the body
without using insulin.)
By
the 1960s, xylitol was being used in Germany, Switzerland,
the Soviet Union, and Japan as a preferred sweetener in
diabetic diets and as an energy source for infusion therapy
in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin
resistance. Since then, many other countries, including
Italy and China, have been producing xylitol for use in
their domestic markets-and with remarkable health benefits.
It has been relatively unknown in the U.S.A. and Australia,
primarily because cheap supplies of cane sugar made the
more expensive xylitol less economically. viable.
Xylitol
is a natural substance found in fibrous vegetables and fruit,
as well as in corn cobs and various hardwood trees like
birch. It is a natural, intermediate product which regularly
occurs in the glucose metabolism of man and other animals,
as well as in the metabolism of several plants and micro-organisms.
Xylitol is produced naturally in our bodies; in fact, we
make up to 15 grams daily during normal metabolism.
Although
xylitol tastes and looks exactly like sugar, that is where
the similarities end. Xylitol is really sugar's mirror image.
While sugar wreaks havoc on the body, xylitol heals and
repairs. It also builds immunity, protects against chronic
degenerative disease, and has anti-aging benefits. Xylitol
is considered a five-carbon sugar, which means it is an
antimicrobial, preventing the growth of bacteria. While
sugar is acid-forming, xylitol is alkaline enhancing. All
other forms of sugar, including sorbitol, another popular
alternative sweetener, are six-carbon sugars, which feed
dangerous bacteria and fungi.
Approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1963,
xylitol has no known toxic levels. The only discomfort that
some sensitive people may notice initially when. taking
large amounts is mild diarrhea or slight cramping.
Since
the body makes xylitol daily, as well as the enzymes to
break it down, any discomfort usually disappears within
a few days as the body's enzymatic activity adjusts to a
higher intake.
Xylitol
has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than
sugar and is slowly absorbed and metabolised, resulting
in very negligible changes in insulin. About one-third of
the xylitol that is consumed is absorbed in the liver. The
other two-thirds travels to the intestinal tract, where
it is broken down by gut bacteria into short-chain fatty
acids.
Xylitol
looks, feels, and tastes exactly like sugar, and leaves
no unpleasant aftertaste. It is available in many forms.
In its crystalline form, it can replace sugar in cooking,
baking, or as a sweetener for beverages. It is also included
as an ingredient in chewing gum, mints, and nasal spray.
Xylitol And Oral Health
Tooth
decay and gum disease are serious problems. According to
the American Dental Association, 75% of American adults
over the age of 35 suffer from some form of periodontal
disease.1 Needless to say, diet plays a major role in dental
heath. When there is an excess of sugar in the diet, this
weakens the immune system and creates an acidic environment;
thus oral health suffers. The mouth is home to over 400
strains of bacteria. Most of these are benign, but when
sugar enters the scene, it feeds the destructive strains,
allowing them to proliferate.
Periodontal
disease is basically caused by bacteria. These deposits
permit the growth of bacteria that cause inflammation of
the gums. The bacteria also release minute amounts of toxins
that break down guru tissue, thereby helping the infection
to progress. Plaque is an invisible, sticky film of saliva
and food residue that constantly forms on the teeth. Ongoing
low-grade bacterial infection also burdens the immune system.
Bacteria
help to create plaque and they also thrive within it. Unless
removed, plaque formed along the gum-line can lead to gum
disease. When left untreated, plaque at or below the gum
line hardens into tartar.
Periodontal disease takes two forms: simple gum inflammation,
called gingivitis, and a more severe gum infection, called
periodontitis, which may lead to tooth loss and receding
gums.
Gingivitis
results from the build-up of plaque and tartar which irritate
the gum or periodontal tissue. The more advanced state of
gum disease, periodontitis, occurs when inflammation of
the gums is accompanied by bone and ligament destruction.
Bleeding gums are usually the first indication that gum
disease is developing, but obvious symptoms may not always
be present.
Gum
infection can also lead to other serious health problems.
It doubles the risk of stroke, triples the risk of heart
attack, increases the incidence of premature, low-weight
babies, and also contributes to bronchitis, pneumonia, and
emphysema. In fact, the same bacteria that cause gum disease
end up either directly or indirectly infecting your heart
and arteries. A study conducted at the University of Minnesota
in 1998 found that rabbits injected with tooth plaque developed
blood clots which led to heart disease. 2 It seems that
the bacteria first attack the bones and gums in the mouth
and then enter the bloodstream through small cracks in the
gums.
Eating
sugar causes tooth decay by creating a highly acidic condition
in the mouth. Acidity strips tooth enamel of minerals, causing
it to weaken and making it more vulnerable to attack by
bacteria, leading to tooth decay or demineralization. Ordinarily,
saliva bathes the mouth with an alkaline solution that neutralizes
all acidity and actually remineralizes the teeth. Saliva
also washes away leftover bits of food and helps the digestion
process. But when saliva turns acidic because of too many
sweets, bacteria in the mouth have a feeding frenzy. These
nasty bacteria, along with carbohydrate waste, stick to
the teeth and tongue and hold the acid close to the teeth
where it eats away enamel. Virtually whatever food you ingest,
the remaining particles become food for plaque-producing
bacteria. Using xylitol helps to raise plaque pH, thereby
reducing the time that teeth are exposed to damaging acids,
as well as starving harmful bacteria of their food source.
Xylitol
is a dentist's dream. It reverses all these destructive
effects of sugar on oral health. Xylitol is non-fermentable
and therefore cannot be converted to acids by oral bacteria,
thus it helps to restore a proper alkaline/acid balance
in the mouth. This alkaline environment is inhospitable
to all the destructive bacteria, especially the worst variety,
Streptococcus mutans. It also inhibits plaque formation.
Using
xylitol right before bedtime, after brushing and flossing,
protects and heals the teeth and gums. Unlike sugar, it
can even be left on the teeth overnight. With proper use,
xylitol actually stops the fermentation process leading
to tooth decay. Long-term use suppresses the most harmful
strains of oral bacteria, making a long-lasting change in
those bacterial communities. Xylitol even has the ability
to enhance the mineralization of the enamel. It is most
effective in treating small decay spots. Although larger
cavities won't go away, they can harden and become less
sensitive.
Consistently
using small amounts of xylitol tends to increase protective
factors in saliva. Xylitol stimulates saliva flow and helps
keep salivary minerals in a useful form. Prolonged xylitol
use increases the buffering capacity and protective factors
in saliva. Increased saliva production is especially important
for people suffering with a dry mouth due to illness, aging,
or drug sideeffects.
Since
the oral environment becomes less acidic with continued
xylitol use, it is advisable to chew xylitol gum or suck
a xylitol mint after every meal or after eating sweet snacks.
The best news is that studies have shown that xylitol's
effect is long-lasting and possibly even permanent.
Xylitol
has recently received positive support in the Journal Of
The American Dental Association. "Xylitol is an effective
preventive agent against dental caries... Consumption of
xylitol containing chewing gum has been demonstrated to
reduce caries in Finnish teenagers by 30-60%. Studies conducted
in Canada, Thailand, Polynesia, and Belize have shown similar
results.... " 3 A study conducted at Harvard School
of Dental Medicine concluded that: "Xylitol can significantly
decrease the incidence of dental caries." 4
Another
unexpected benefit came from a Finnish study which showed
that children whose teeth are colonised between 19 and 31
months of age by Streptococcus mutans bacteria are more
likely to have a large number of cavities. Most children
acquire this bacteria from their mother's saliva through
food tasting, sharing cups, and kissing. The study showed
a dramatic 70% reduction in tooth decay among children whose
mothers chewed xylitol gum.5
Xylitol,
however, isn't just for the young. In a paper published
in the Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, researchers
tested 111 adults, aged 60 and older, over a 12-month period.
All were frail but healthy adults. In the study, one group
of volunteers chewed no gum, a second chewed gum containing
xylitol, and a third group chewed gum containing both xylitol
and an antimicrobial. In the two groups receiving gum, the
participants chewed two pieces for 15 minutes, two times
per day. At the end of the study, the researchers reported
that the group who received xylitol gum had substantially
lowered their risk of developing thrush, a fungal or yeast
infection that can cause mouth soreness. (The group who
received xylitol plus the antimicrobial had equal benefits.)
It had also reduced their risk of developing angular cheilitis,
a condition in which sores develop in the corners of the
mouth. The researchers noted that xylitol gum can provide
a "real clinical benefit" to frail, elderly people.6
Xylitol And Ear, Nose & Throat Infections
Recurring
middle-ear infections pose a great health threat to children.
Tubes are often inserted into the eardrum in children with
these recurring infections to reduce the fluid that is attempting
to wash out the infection from the middle ear. Whil this
procedure sometimes helps to reduce the frequency of infections,
it is also designed to help with hearing.
Language,
a critical part of learning, is built by auditory input
during the first two years of life-the same period when
ear infections are most common. If this input is dampened
by infection or fluid in the middle ear during this important
period, it can cause learning problems.
One
researcher demonstrated that, even when properly treated,
recurrent middle ear infections during the first two years
result in significant impairment in reading ability up to
the age of nine.7 Another study followed children longer
and showed significant learning and social problems extending
up to age eighteen.8
One
of xylitol's versatile benefits is its ability to inhibit
the growth of bacteria that cause middle-ear infections
in young children. In two recent studies involving over
1,000 children, xylitolflavored chewing gum was found to
reduce the incidence of middle-ear infections by 40%, significantly
decreasing ongoing middle-ear complications and the need
for antibiotics.
Regularly
washing the nose with a spray containing xylitol decreases
the number of harmful bacteria and stimulates normal defensive
washing of this area. A clean nose reduces problems with
allergies and asthma that originate from nasal irritants
and pollutants.
Current
research shows how bacteria attach to cells in the body,
causing infection. Some sugars like xylitol are known to
be able to interfere with this binding, blocking the attachment
of the major infection-causing bacteria that live in the
nose. Dr. Lon Jones, a physician in Plainsview, Texas, reported
that the use of a xylitol nasal spray in his practice prevented
93% of ear infections and resulted in comparable reductions
in sinus infections, allergies, and asthma.9
Xylitol
has been shown to be effective in inhibiting Candida Albicans,
a serious systemic yeast problem, and other harmful gut
bacteria including H. Pylori, implicated in periodontal
disease, bad breath, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and even
stomach cancer.
Xylitol And Osteoporosis
Another
exciting benefit from xylitol is its role in reversing bone
loss. Studies in Finland found that xylitol maintained bone
density in rats that had their ovaries removed. Without
ovaries, estrogen levels plummeted and so did the bone density
in rats that were not given xylitol. However, in the rats
that had ovaries removed and were given xylitol, bone density
actually increased.10 Another study showed that xylitol
was effective in decreasing age-related bone loss in older
male rats by 10%. 11
In
an unprecedented action, the Finnish researchers made bold
recommendations for human application of their studies.
They suggested that an effective human dose would be about
40 grams daily. The scientists speculated that xylitol's
bone density-enhancing properties are due to its ability
to promote intestinal absorption of calcium. Including xylitol
in one's diet is certainly an enjoyable way to reap the
benefits of greater bone density, along with other health
benefits.
Xylitol And Insulin Resistance, Diabetes Hypertension, And
Hormonal Imbalances
Consuming
sugar and other refined carbohydrates results in the rapid
release of glucose, or blood sugar. In response, the pancreas
secretes insulin to usher glucose into the cells, where
it is burned for energy. Excess glucose stresses the system,
and over time the cells become less responsive to insulin.
This condition, known as insulin resistance, is a huge health
problem and it is estimated to affect half the American
population. Insulin resistance is associated with abnormalities
in cholesterol and triglyceride levels, hypertension, increased
risk of heart disease, and diabetes.
The
dramatic rise in type-2 diabetes since the mid-1900s directly
coincides with our increased consumption of sugar. One long-term
study of more than 65,000 women demonstrated that a high-sugar,
low-fibre diet increased the risk of type-2 diabetes by
250%. Another recent study found that excessive intake of
sugar was the single most important dietary risk factor
for heart disease in women and for men. It has been estimated
that sugar intake may account for more than 150,000 premature
deaths from heart disease in the United States each year.12
Xylitol
has been demonstrated in repeated clinical studies to be
very slowly metabolised. In fact, on the glycemic index,
which measures how quickly foods enter the bloodstream,
sugar is rated at 100 and xylitol at just seven! Xylitol
is a natural insulin stabilizer, therefore it causes none
of the abrupt rises and falls that occur with sugar. In
fact, it actually helps in stopping sugar and carbohydrate
cravings. Foods sweetened with xylitol will not raise insulin
levels. This makes it a perfect sweetener for people with
diabetes as well as those wanting to lose weight. There
is a growing consensus amongst anti-aging researchers that
maintaining low insulin levels is a key to a successful
anti-aging program.
Insulin
resistance also plays a significant role in hormonal imbalances,
including those that lead to breast cancer. High insulin
levels increase the production of estrogens, leading to
an estrogen-dominant condition, and also interfere with
healthy ovarian function. Insulin resistance is a major
cause of a growing hormonal problem called polycystic ovarian
syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes the ovaries to become anovulatory,
which means that the normal cyclic production of estrogen
followed by progesterone either ceases or becomes dysfunctional.
Insulin stimulates the ovaries to produce predominantly
male hormones, which, in combination with higher insulin
and glucose levels, increase weight gain around the waist-a
body type that is a risk factor for breast cancer. Signs
that the body is being exposed to higher levels of the male
hormones include acne, loss of head hair, and an increase
in body hair. Lowering insulin levels is crucial for not
only treating PCOS but also resolving most other hormonal
imbalances, including those leading to breast cancer.13
Dr.
John Lee, author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About
Breast Cancer, explains the connection between insulin resistance
and breast cancer:
"Overeating
junk food makes you fat. Increased body fat and lack of
exercise lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance
leads to further craving of sugary carbohydrates to generate
energy for the body. More insulin is released in response
to increased carbohydrate intake, leading to more weight
gain. More fat leads to more estrogens, which, in turn,
lead to earlier breast development and menstruation. Earlier
onset of menstruation leads to more ovulatory cycles and
a greater lifetime exposure to estrogens without adequate
progesterone. A greater lifetime exposure to estrogens increases
breast cancer risk.
"Simultaneously,
increased consumption of simple carbohydrates, coupled with
insulin resistance, leads to polycystic ovaries and lack
of ovulation during menstrual cycles, resulting in excess
production of androgens and estrogens, along with inadequate
production of progesterone. Excessive estrogen production
in the absence of progesterone production leads to estrogen
dominance and increased breast cancer risk. Use of contraceptive
hormones increases insulin resistance, exacerbating all
the above problems."14
Using
xylitol instead of sugar, as well as reducing intake of
high-glycemic, refined carbohydrate foods, helps to lower
the risk not only of PCOS but also of ovarian cysts, fibroids,
endometriosis, PMS, hot flashes, weight gain, and depression.
The Safer Sweetener
Increased
sugar consumption has bedeviled Western cultures with more
and more health problems, many of which are putting an enormous
strain on healthcare systems. Finally, there is an answer
to our collective prayers for something truly healthy that
can also satisfy our sweet tooth. Over 1,500 scientific
studies have found that the more you use xylitol, the more
you can eliminate sugar cravings, reduce insulin levels,
and alkalinize your body. It's a great aid on the way to
good health and long life.
Imagine
never having to feel those twinges of guilt when you bite
into a xylitol-sweetened brownie. Or how about increasing
your bone density while enjoying your favorite hot drink
with two spoonfuls of xylitol crystals, or knowing that
xylitol-sweetened chewing gum is preventing cavities and
gum disease?
With
xylitol, you can now have your sweet tooth and treat it,
too!
References
1.
Zeines, Victor, DDS, MS, FAGD. Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body.
Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2000, p. 55.
2.
ibid., p. 29.
3.
Beiswanger, BB, Boneta AE, Mau MS, Katz BP, Proskin HM,
Stookey GK. The effect of chewing sugar-free gum after meals
on clinical caries incidence. J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 1998;129:1623-6.
4.
Hayes, Catherine, DMD; DMSc. The effect of non-cariogenic
sweeteners on the prevention of dental caries: A review
of evidence. Harvard School Of Dental Medicine. See the
http://www.lib.umich.edu/dentlib/nihcdc/abstracts/hayes.html
Internet website.
5.
How Xylitol-containing Products Affect Cariogenic Bacteria.
J. Am. Dent. Assoc., April 2000.
6.
J. Am. Geriatrics Soc. 2002;50. See the www.globalaging.org/health/world/medgum.htm
Internet website.
7.
Luotonen M, Uhari M, Aitola, L et a1. Recurrent otitis media
during infancy and linguistic skills at the age of nine
years. Pediatr Infect. J. 1996;15:854-8.
8.
Bennett KE, Haggard MP, Silva PA, Stewart IA. Behavior and
development effects of otitis media with effusion into the
teens. Arch. Dis. Child 2601 Aug;85(2):91-5.
9.
See www.nasal-xylitol.com Internet website.
10.
Svanberg M; Mattila P, Knuttila M. Dietary xylitol retards
the ovariectomyinduced increase of bone turnover in rats.
Calcif. Tissue Int. 60:462-466.
11.
Mattila P, Svanberg, M, Knuttila, M. Increased bone volume
and bone mineral content in xylitol-fed aged rats. Gerontology
2001;47:300-305.
12.
Carbohydrates: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Dr. James
Whittaker Newsletter, vol. 13, no. 4, April 2000.
13.
John, Lee MD. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast
Cancer. Warner Books, 2002, p. 61.
14.
ibid, p. 62.
About The Author
Sherrill
Sellman is the author of the bestselling book Hormone Heresy.
What Women Must Know About Their Hormones. She can be contacted
via her website (www.ssellman.com) or by email (golight@earthlink.net).
To subscribe to her monthly HormoneWise e-Digest, send an
email to the hwise@ssellman.com Internet location.
