• XYLITOL This natural sugar-free sweetener is made from birch or beech wood. It has a lower GI and far fewer calories than sugar, but looks and tastes like it and can be used in the same way. But it’s not just a good sugar-free option – xylitol can actually promote dental health. Unlike sugar, when it’s broken down it creates an alkaline environment in the mouth. It helps reduce plaque, kill bacteria and even remineralise teeth. According to Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, xylitol ‘may be the biggest advance against cavities since fluoride’.
• WHOLE FRESH FRUIT