Xylitol has 2.4 calories per gram and does not raise blood glucose. A 3-year RCT in children found xylitol candy reduced cavities by ~35–40% vs. sorbitol (Ur-Rehman et al., 2019 review). Digestive tolerance is lower than erythritol: doses above 40 g/day may cause osmotic diarrhea.
How should I track Xylitol?
When tracking Xylitol, measuring by weight on a kitchen scale gives you the most precision. Volume measures vary depending on crystal size and powder density — a heaping spoonful can be double a level one. Research shows visual estimation errors reach 50–200% for calorie-dense foods (Almiron-Roig et al., Appetite 2013), and liquid sweeteners like honey are among the easiest to over-pour. For zero-calorie sweeteners, bulking agents add trace calories (2–4 per packet) — negligible in your daily total. For calorie-containing sweeteners, the scale is essential.