{GUEST COLUMN} Health: What is Xylitol?

By Kari Brennan
Special to the Herald Times
RBC | Xylitol is spelled with an “X” but pronounced with a

“Z” sound. (Z-I-LI-TALL). Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that is widely used as a sugar substitute. Chemically, it is a sugar alcohol, and found naturally in berries, plums, corn, oats, mushrooms, lettuce, trees and some other fruits. Xylitol inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause cavities. It does this because these…