SWEET SWEET TOOTH

Have you got a sweet tooth? Up until now, it's been hard to sustain the habit - sugar can rot your teeth, there's repeated scares about artificial sweeteners, and sorbitol can have...shall we say....unpleasant side effects.

Step up Healthy by Nature Ltd, a new company, to  announce the launch of a completely natural sugar alternative with a host of health benefits which make it perfect for dieters, diabetics, children, and anyone concerned about oral health and general well-being.

The unusual sugar alternative has already been praised by many of the UK’s leading nutritionists. Perfect Sweet is derived entirely from xylitol, a naturally occurring substance found in strawberries, plums and pears. No men in white lab coats or test tubes involved!

Because xylitol releases its energy much slower than any other sugar or sweetener it's a good choice for anyone on a low GI diet, or diabetics who need to keep their blood sugar stable. Perfect Sweet also, bizarrely helps toprevent ear infections tand can aid prevention of osteoporosis. It'sused just like sugar in cooking and can be added to a range of food and drinks such as tea, coffee, smoothies, cereals, puddings, or snacks.

“We all know the consequences of our addiction to sugar: weight gain, mood swings, skin problems, diabetes, oral cavities and even infections such as overgrowth of Candida Albicans, which is though to lead to thrush and many other afflictions,” says Edward Baylis at Perfect Sweet. “But until now there just hasn’t been a satisfactory, non-chemical alternative to sugar. The most exciting thing about Perfect Sweet is that for the first time we have a 100% natural, completely healthy product, that is not only as delicious as the stuff we’re used to, but actually delivers a host of positive health benefits. This is the kind of product parents will be encouraging their kids to eat!”

Oral Health

One of the major discoveries in respect to xylitol was that when it is broken down in the mouth and stomach it produces an alkaline environment, rather than an acidic one like sugar. In this alkaline environment the bacteria that cause tooth decay can’t survive and decay is prevented. The environment which is created also favours calcium and mineral absorption so enamel decay is even seen to be reversed.

Osteoporosis

Increased calcium absorption in the stomach has led to studies observing a much improved bone density (stronger bones) when using xylitol regularly. This could be a huge help for those living with conditions such as osteoporosis.

Bacterial and Yeast Infections

The environment created by xylitol, in which bacteria cannot survive, has further led to the discovery that ear infections, and other bacterial and yeast infections (such as thrush), can help to be prevented when using it. There has been particular interest in the use of xylitol to help prevent ear infections, especially in children.

Priced at £2.69 for a 225g pack, Perfect Sweet is available in selected Waitrose, Holland and Barrett, Sainsbury’s (in the health isle) and independent health stores.