Xylitol is odorless, sweet and refreshing, easily soluble in water, ethanol, and slightly soluble in methanol. Its sweetness and calorific value are similar to those of sucrose, making it an excellent sugar substitute for patients who fast on sucrose. It is hygroscopic and widely used in medicine, food, national defense, chemical industry and other industries.

Xylitol does not undergo Maillard browning reaction with amino acids, proteins, etc., so it is often used as a surface sweetener for baked goods; due to its chelating effect, it is not affected by yeast and lactic acid bacteria, and has the effect of preventing and treating dental caries, so it can be used as a toothpaste additive; in addition, it can also be used as a raw material for chemicals, coatings, and paints; xylitol crystals absorb heat when dissolved, giving the mouth a cool feeling, so it is often used as an ingredient for chewing gum; it is used as an infusion in medicine.

Functional characteristics

1. Healthy sweetener: Xylitol has the same sweetness as sucrose, extracted from natural raw materials, and is a natural and healthy sweetener that can be used in healthy foods such as sugar-free foods and sugar-free candies.

2. Anti-caries: Xylitol cannot be fermented and utilized by bacteria that cause dental caries in the mouth, so it has good anti-caries properties and can be widely used in various oral health products.

3. Prevent blood sugar from rising: When the body lacks insulin to affect sugar metabolism, xylitol can pass through the cell membrane and be absorbed and utilized by tissues without the need for insulin promotion. It can be used as a sweetener, nutritional supplement and auxiliary therapeutic agent for diabetic patients.

4. Improve liver function: Xylitol can promote liver glycogen synthesis, reduce the consumption of fat and protein in liver tissue, protect and repair the liver, improve liver function in patients with liver disease, resist fatty liver, and has a significant therapeutic effect on persistent hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis B, cirrhosis, etc. It is an ideal auxiliary medicine for patients with hepatitis complications.

5. Weight loss function: Compared with ordinary sugar, xylitol has the advantage of low calories - each gram of xylitol contains only 2.4 kcal of calories, which is 40% less than most other carbohydrates. Therefore, xylitol can be used in various weight loss foods instead of high-calorie white sugar.

6. Improve gastrointestinal function: Xylitol can promote the proliferation of bifidobacteria, promote the proliferation of beneficial intestinal bacteria, improve gastrointestinal function, and has high activity. It is a promising functional additive.

7. Hygroscopicity: When used to make some softer snacks, it can stay soft longer than sucrose, and can also extend the shelf life of food, such as making cakes and bread. It can be used as a moisturizer for cosmetics and is non-irritating to human skin.

8. Flavor enhancement: When eaten, it will produce a pleasant cool feeling in the mouth, and the effect is better after freezing. It can be used in industries such as cool cold drinks, desserts, milk, coffee, etc., and can also be used in health drinks, throat medicine, cough syrup, etc., and can also increase the flavor of foods such as mint and spearmint.

9. Extend the shelf life of food: Xylitol is not fermented by yeast, is a poor culture medium for microorganisms, and has a long-lasting sweetness, so it can extend its shelf life.

10. No “Maillard” browning reaction occurs: Xylitol does not contain aldehyde or ketone groups in its structure, and no “Maillard” browning reaction occurs when heated, so it can be used to make baked goods with different flavors.