There are many low-calorie or no-calorie alternatives to sugar. However, sweeteners, stevia, and co. often leave a smack or aftertaste. Zucker is supposed to care for your teeth, have 40% fewer calories than sugar, and still be natural and produced without genetic engineering. Good reasons to take a closer look at this sugar substitute.
What is Zucker?
Zucker (pure xylitol powder) is also known as birch sugar and occurs in metabolic processes in the human organism and in various types of vegetables and wood. Contrary to what the name suggests, it is mainly made from beech wood (not birch wood) or corn and is one of the sugar alcohols. To make Zucker, wood, bark, or the remains of corn are crushed and mixed with water. Various purifications and filtrations then follow in order to separate the xylitol from other components. Crystallization and drying transform the xylitol mass into small granular xylitol crystals.
How healthy is Buckle?
Zucker (xylitol) is metabolized independently of insulin and can therefore be used well by diabetics. Unlike sugar, the blood sugar level rises very little after consuming xylitol, which relieves the pancreas. Although xylitol is a pure carbohydrate, Zucker is suitable for a low-carb diet. Fatty acids are mainly formed from xylitol, which is not metabolized as quickly as glucose (simple sugar). Nevertheless, xylitol has no negative impact on lipid metabolism and blood lipid levels. Due to the constant blood sugar level, there are no food cravings, as these are usually caused by a drop in blood sugar levels.
When using Zucker, you should still be careful, especially at the beginning. Xylitol can also have a laxative effect in large quantities and lead to flatulence and diarrhea. Unlike other sugar substitutes such as sorbitol, the body can gradually get used to a higher amount of xylitol. In the beginning, a quantity of 3 to 4 teaspoons (corresponds to about 15 to 20 grams) per day should not be exceeded. It is also important that Zucker is definitely not suitable for pets and can lead to serious health problems.
Xylitol is good for your teeth
Finnish researchers found out in a study in the early 1970s that xylitol not only does not cause tooth decay but also prevents it. Subjects who took xylitol regularly had not developed new tooth decay and the health of their teeth had been shown to improve. Regular mouth rinsing with xylitol dissolved in water can prevent tooth decay and reduce plaque on teeth.
Usage tips for Zucker
Zucker is ideal for sweetening when cooking, baking, and desserts because, unlike sweeteners, it has a similar sweetening power to sugar and is used 1:1 in recipes. When baking, there should be no undesirable changes in consistency or taste that often occur with other sugar alternatives. However, when we tried it on ourselves, we noticed a slight aftertaste, but everyone should try it for themselves. A teaspoon of sugar must be added to yeast dough, as xylitol cannot metabolize yeast and the dough would not rise. Zucker is only suitable to a limited extent for sweetening drinks since excessive consumption of liquids containing xylitol can cause flatulence.
Zucker is currently available in some supermarkets and at dm. The manufacturer sells Zucker and other sweeteners at www.xucker.de from EUR 9.90/kg. You can also find pure xylitol from other providers on the Internet and here on Amazon.
