Xylitols

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of sugar alcohol commonly used as a sweetener that can have dental health benefits due to its ability to inhibit harmful bacteria
2. A natural carbohydrate found in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables, utilized in sugar-free products for its lower caloric content
3. A crystalline compound often sourced from birch or corn, known for its ability to provide sweetness without raising blood sugar levels significantly

Etymology: "Xylitols" is simply the plural of "xylitol", the name of a sugar alcohol. The plural form is what you get when the compound is counted as separate kinds or quantities, as in different sweeteners or several packets of it. The base of the name is Ancient Greek "xulon", meaning "wood". The ending "-itol" is a chemical suffix added to name sugar alcohols, which are related to the sugars but are chemically reduced versions of them. So the word joins an old Greek noun for timber with a modern chemist's label, and the sense of "wood" is preserved because this substance was first found in wood-derived material.

Synonyms: sugar alcohols, sweeteners