Xylitol often appears in candies and gum as a low calorie sweetener. It has the added benefit that unlike sugar it does not support the growth of bacteria that can cause cavities. Xylitol’s name derives from the Greek “xylan” meaning wood because the compound can be derived from the bark of trees. The musical instrument known as the “xylophone” also owes its name to “xylan.” This percussion instrument consists of a series of wooden bars of increasing lengths, which when struck creates the sounds of the musical scale.
