Zylitol

(Darlene Horsley) #1

Going into week 4 of Keto. Week 3, after switching from Stevia to Xylitol (from birch not corn), I had a daily massive head ache and was living on Tylenol and Advil. I was also spending the better part of the day in the bathroom! After an aha moment of trying to figure out what had changed… I realized it was the Xylitol. Went back to stevia… No more headaches and no more urgent race to the bathroom.
It almost caused me to go back to carb eating. Apparently I am highly sensitive to it’s side effects.

#2

Xylitol is one of the better substitutes as far as taste but too much will weld you to a toilet, known issue with it. I put it in the category of MCT oil, give your system time to get used to it. Use it in recipes mixed with another sweetener for a while. Your probably not that sensitive to it, just the way it is in descent amount.

#3

Consider weaning yourself off of all artificial sweeteners when you can, I know it takes time but I feel like a new man since removing dairy and AS from my ketogenic diet. Despite the absence of calories in most AS there is an insulin response in the body which is the main we thing we are trying to avoid on keto. When I fast I get hunger pangs and mild hypoglycemia just from chewing a piece of xylitol gum.

(Darlene Horsley) #4

I like the taste of it better in ice tea but it was the headaches from it that did me in. I’ll try mixing with other sweeteners in various recipes. Thanks for the tip.

(Darlene Horsley) #5

Eventually Ryan. That’s the goal. :slight_smile:

#6

It’s an amazing feeling to not even really liking the taste of sweet any longer, but I know it takes time. Some people use AS forever on keto but for me I can feel what they do to my body and ALL of them affect me somehow, all in negative ways.

#7

Xylitol can have lots of interesting effects. I have had a few patients get severe hives from it, but most commonly it is GI distress. I like to say that no substitute for sugar is without impunity :wink:

(Darlene Horsley) #8

Truth! I sure wasn’t prepared for a week of my head feeling like it was going to explode… a day or two I probably could have lived with. Just grateful I figured it out.

(Sophie) #9

Be aware that Xylitol ingestion can lead to seizures, coma, and even death to your fur babies if you have them.