Xylitol and Coogee, New South Wales: Difference between pages

Revision as of 06:56, 9 November 2005

Revision as of 18:59, 11 November 2005

Line 1:

[[Image:XylitolCoogee crystals(New South Wales).jpg|thumb|right250px|XylitolCoogee from northern end of Coogee crystalsBeach]]

'''Xylitol''', also called '''wood sugar''', is a [[polyol]] used as a [[sugar substitute]]. The compound was first derived from [[birch]] but is also found in [[raspberry|raspberries]] and [[plum|plums]].

'''Coogee''' is a beachside [[suburb]] of [[Sydney]] adjacent to Coogee Bay (the [[Tasman Sea]]) in the east, [[Clovelly, New South Wales|Clovelly]] in the north, [[Randwick, New South Wales|Randwick]] in the west and [[Kingsford, New South Wales|Kingsford]] and [[Maroubra, New South Wales|Maroubra]] in the south.

Xylitol is most popular in [[Finland]], where many candies are also made in xylitol versions. In [[2004]], [[Trident gum]] was reformulated to include xylitol.

The boundaries are formed mainly by Clovelly Road, Avoca Street and Rainbow Street, with arbitrary lines drawn to join these thoroughfares to the coast in the north-east and south-east corners.

Xylitol, gram for gram, is roughly as sweet as [[sucrose]], but contains 40% less [[food energy]]. Its formula is [[carbon|C₅]][[hydrogen|H₁₂]][[oxygen|O₅]], with relative mass 152.15 [[atomic mass unit|amu]].

==History==

==Medical applications==

===Dental care===

Xylitol is a [[toothfriendly]] sugar substitute. In addition to discouraging tooth decay by replacing dietary sugars, xylitol may actively aid in repairing small caries (dental cavities). Recent research confirms a [[plaque]]-reducing effect and suggests that the compound, having some chemical properties similar to table sugar, attracts and then "starves" harmful microorganisms, allowing the mouth to remineralize damaged teeth with less interruption. The [[United States Army]], acting on this data, will soon pack xylitol-sweetened gum in [[MRE]]s (meals ready to eat). [http://www.tradoc.army.mil/pao/TNSarchives/February04/023404.htm]

[[Image:Wedding_cake_island.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Wedding Cake Island in Coogee Bay]]

===Diabetes===

Xylitol is a low-[[calorie]] alternative to table sugar ([[sucrose]]) (approximately 40% less food energy), and is absorbed more slowly than sugar; thus it doesn't contribute to a rapid rise in [[blood sugar]] level and the resultant [[insulin]] response.

The name "Coogee" is said to be taken from a local [[Australian Aborigine|Aboriginal]] word believed to mean "smelly place", or "stinking seaweed"; a reference to the smell of decaying kelp washed up on the beach. Although at certain times large quantities of seaweed are still washed up, it is usually removed before it gets a chance to smell. Early visitors to the area, from the 1820's onwards, were not able to confirm exactly what the word "Coogee" meant, or if it in fact related to Coogee Beach. Another name, "Bobroi", was also recalled as the indigenous name for the locality.

===Osteoporosis===

Xylitol also appears to have potential as a treatment for [[osteoporosis]]. A group of Finnish researchers have found that dietary xylitol prevents weakening of [[bone]]s in laboratory rats, and actually improves bone density.¹²

The Aboriginal population had largely relocated by the mid-19th century after being decimated by disease and violent clashes with early settlers, though some Aborigines live in the area today.

===Ear infection===

Studies³ [http://www.drgreene.com/21_837.html] have shown that xylitol chewing gum can help prevent ear infections (acute [[otitis media]]); the act of chewing and swallowing assists with the disposal of [[earwax]] and clearing the [[middle ear]], whilst the presence of xylitol prevents the growth of bacteria in the [[eustachian tubes]] which connect the nose and ear. [http://www.besttreatments.co.uk/btuk/conditions/12828.html]

Coogee was gazetted as a village in [[1838]], growing slowly until it was connected to the city by electric [[tram]] in [[1902]]. The suburb's popularity as a seaside resort was now guaranteed and the [[Surf Lifesaving|Coogee Surf Life Saving Club]] was founded in 1907. Population growth began in earnest in the 1920s.

==Health concerns==

Xylitol, like most sugar alcohols, can have a mild [[laxative]] effect at high doses. It has no known [[toxic|toxicity]], though; people have consumed as much as 400 [[gram]]s daily for long periods with no ill effects. However, xylitol can cause serious – possibly life-threatening – problems for canines. Dogs ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol may have a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination, and seizures within 30 minutes of consumption. [http://www.aspca.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=1101&page=NewsArticle&id=16803&security=2220]

An English-style seaside entertainment pier stood at the beach between [[1928]] and [[1934]] but it was demolished after damage by the surf.

==References==

*¹ Mattila PT, Svanberg MJ, Jamsa T, Knuuttila ML (2002). Improved bone biomechanical properties in xylitol-fed aged rats. <cite>Metabolism</cite> 51(1):92-6. ([http://www.arclab.org/medlineupdates/abstract_11782878.html online abstract])

*² Mattila, PT (1999). Dietary xylitol in the prevention of experimental osteoporosis: Beneficial effects on bone resorption, structure and biomechanics. Dissertation, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu. ([http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn951425158X/ online])

*³ Uhari M, et al. (1998). A novel use of xylitol sugar in preventing acute otitis media. Pediatrics, 102(4): 879&#8211;974.

Today Coogee is one of Australia's more densely populated areas, with apartment buildings in every style from the 1930s onwards. Some free-standing houses remain. The suburb is a popular destination for tourists.

==See also==

* Other sugar alcohols: [[mannitol]], [[sorbitol]]

* Herbal sweetener: [[stevia]]

* Artificial sweeteners: [[aspartame]], [[sucralose]]

On the northern [[headland]] stands the doorway of the old Giles gym and baths, the remainder of which has now been demolished. This area is now known as "Dolphin Point". The doorway and a four-metre high bronze sculpture serve as a memorial to twenty of the Australian victims of the [[2002 Bali bombing]] who were residents of Coogee and its neighbouring suburbs, including six members of the Coogee Dolphins [[Rugby League]] team.

==External links==

* [http://www.xylitol.net/xylifresh.cfm About xylitol from Leaf] (Finnish)

==Transport==

[[Category:Sweeteners]]

[[Category:Alcohols]]

Sydney's steam [[Trams in Sydney|tramways]] first reached Coogee in [[1883]] and were electrified in [[1902]]. The trams were replaced by buses from time to time in the 1940s and 1950s as the infrastructure suffered severe neglect during and after WWII. The tracks were deemed too expensive to repair and the power supply was so inadequate that trams would grind to a halt in incovenient locations. Eventually the entire Sydney tram network was scrapped and replaced by buses. The last trams ran to Coogee in [[1960]].

[[da:Xylitol]]

[[de:Xylitol]]

The suburb is now well served by buses, with routes to the Sydney [[Central Business District|CBD]] via [[Randwick, New South Wales|Randwick]], [[Bondi Junction]], [[Eastlakes]] via Maroubra and [[Leichhardt]] via [[Glebe, New South Wales|Glebe]] and [[Newtown, New South Wales|Newtown]].

[[ko:&#51088;&#51068;&#47532;&#53672;]]

[[nl:Xylitol]]

==Geography and landmarks==

[[ja:&#12461;&#12471;&#12522;&#12488;&#12540;&#12523;]]

[[nn:Xylitol]]

Coogee beach is relatively protected through its formation as a bay. The surrounding coastline is mostly cliffs, decreasing in height down to the beach in the western part of the bay. The bay is sheltered from the roughest seas by [[Wedding Cake Island]], a rocky reef about 400m off the southern headland.

[[fi:Ksylitoli]]

[[sv:Xylitol]]

The beach itself drops off rapidly at the edge of the water, which can result in a dangerous shore break particularly when the surf is large. The combination of this shore break and high visitor numbers mean that Coogee has more spinal injuries than any other Australian beach.

[[zh:&#26408;&#31958;&#37255;]]

In larger surf, there are often [[rip current]]s at both the northern end and at the southern ends, and also quite frequently in the centre of the beach. These are simply the places where the incoming water escapes most naturally. It is claimed by locals that the rip in the centre of the beach is partly caused by the remaining foundations of the old entertainment pier (see above - history).

At the northern end of the beach, are stairs leading from Dolphin Point down to the old Giles baths. This is now an open rock pool carved out of the surrounding rocks. A short walk further to the north is Gordons Bay, which is a popular ___location for [[snorkeling]]. At the southern end is the Ross Jones Memorial Pool just below the [[Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club]]. Also at the southern end are two small [[reef]]s the inner and the outer. Further south is a coastal walk that goes past the womens baths and Wylies baths.

==Politics==

Coogee is part of the [[City of Randwick]], forming the East Ward together with [[Clovelly, New South Wales|Clovelly]]. It lies in the [[Australian House of Representatives electoral Divisions|Federal electorate]] of [[Division of Kingsford Smith|Kingsford Smith]] (which covers all of south-east Sydney), and the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly electoral districts|State electorate]] of [[Electoral district of Coogee|Coogee]] (which also includes the suburbs of [[Randwick, New South Wales|Randwick]], [[Waverley, New South Wales|Waverley]], [[Clovelly]], [[Bronte, New South Wales|Bronte]], and [[Bondi Junction]]).

== External links ==

* Information and photos at [http://coogee.web.com Coogee Beach Home Page].

{{Mapit-AUS-suburbscale|long=151.25552|lat=-33.91897}}

[[Category:Incomplete Sydney suburbs]]

[[Category:SweetenersSuburbs of Sydney]]