Xylitol

Xylitol is a sweetener from trees such as the birch or from a plant fiber called xylan. This type of artificial sweetener is often mixed into candy, chewing gum, mint candy, to oral care products such as toothpaste. Xylitol can also be purchased in the form of a white crystalline powder to be used as a sweetener. The sweet taste of xylitol is similar to granulated sugar. But interestingly, the number of calories from xylitol 40% lower than sugar. Each gram of sugar provides 4 calories, unlike one gram of xylitol which is 'only' 2.4 calories. Xylitol is a low-calorie sweetener because it does not contain protein, vitamins, or minerals.