3. Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol with a sweetness similar to sugar.
It contains 2.4 calories per gram, or about 2/3rds of the caloric value of sugar.
Xylitol appears to have some benefits for dental health, reducing the risk of cavities and dental decay (12, 13).
It may also improve bone density, helping to prevent osteoporosis (14). Xylitol doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin levels (15).
However, as with other sugar alcohols, it can cause digestive side effects at high doses.
If you have a dog in your home, then you might want to keep xylitol out of the house because it is highly toxic to dogs (16).
