Photo Courtesy of Personal Trainer Pioneer
Whether you are starting a keto diet or just want to avoid the negative effects of sugar, there are lots of reasons to try sugar-free sweeteners. Today there are many sugar substitutes to choose from and each all has their own pros and cons. At Lakanto we have chosen what we think are the best sweeteners to make our exclusive one-to-one sugar substitute.
Lakanto is made with a blend of erythritol and monk fruit. There are many pros to both monk fruit and erythritol, but also a few cons that we have to work around to bring you the best sugar substitute on the planet! Below, we dive into the specifics to answer all the questions we hear most often.
Why is there erythritol in Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweeteners?
We use it in our Lakanto Monkfruit Sweeteners as a way to make a convenient one-to-one sugar replacement.
It's first important to understand that neither monk fruit, nor erythritol can match the sweetness of sugar by themselves. Monk fruit is much too sweet, being about 200-300 times sweeter than sugar; and Erythritol is only about 70% as sweet as sugar. Because of this, the combination of the two (in a very special recipe) is where magic happens in matching the flavor of sugar. Monk fruit is the key ingredient.
We believe giving up sugar is one of the best choices we can make for our health. And a one-to-one sugar substitute is the most simple solution for people starting a healthier, sugar-free life without disrupting their normal cooking and baking routines.
What is erythritol?
Erythritol is a popular, all-natural sweetener. Erythritol belongs to a class of compounds called sugar alcohols. Many different sugar alcohols are used by food producers. These include xylitol, sorbitol and maltitol.
Most sugar alcohols function as low-calorie sweeteners in sugar-free or low-sugar products. They’re actually found in small amounts in nature, especially in fruits and vegetables. The way these molecules are structured gives them the ability to stimulate the sweet taste receptors on your tongue.
But the real benefit of erythritol comes from how different it is from other sugar alcohols. It contains fewer calories and zero net carbs, making it friendly for a variety of lifestyles, including keto! Erythritol has only 5% of the calories of sugar.
Sweetener calorie comparison:
- Table Sugar: 4 calories per gram
- Xylitol: 2.4 calories per gram
- Erythritol: 0.24 calories per gram
Does erythritol have side effects?
Erythritol goes virtually unrecognized through the digestive system! See, we humans don't have the enzymes needed to break down erythritol. It’s absorbed into the bloodstream and then excreted unchanged in the urine.
Erythritol has been studied for toxicity and serious side effects. No research or testing has resulted negative side effects. “Erythritol administered orally to humans was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and quantitatively excreted in the urine without undergoing metabolic change.” Every human body is different and for some people, erythritol can cause digestive issues because it is processed when it reaches the colon. It hasn’t been shown to have serious side effects, but we do recommend starting on it slowly rather than in large quantities.
When tested for carcinogens it did not show any indication of causing or promoting the growth of tumors. In fact, one of Lakanto’s biggest champions is Alison Gannett, who has successfully been in cancer remission for years and kept the growth of a persistent tumor in check—all while enjoying Lakanto products regularly.And unlike, xylitol, erythritol is not toxic to dogs if your furry friend accidentally gets into some.
Does erythritol spike blood sugar or insulin?
Because the body digests erythritol differently than sugar, when healthy people are given erythritol, there is no change in blood sugar or insulin levels. There is also no effect on cholesterol, triglycerides or other biomarkers. For those who are overweight or have diabetes or other issues related to metabolic syndrome, erythritol appears to be an excellent alternative to sugar.
How is erythritol low carb?
There are carbohydrates in erythritol but they won't impact your overall carb intake. That's because sugar alcohols like erythritol aren't absorbed by the body.
Most people on low-carb diets focus on counting “net carbs.” Net carbs are determined by the carbs that are fully digested by your body. You can calculate them by subtracting a product's fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrate number on the label.
There are roughly four grams of total carbs per teaspoon of erythritol but the net carb count is zero—because it’s all sugar alcohols!
Does erythritol contain corn?
In large-scale production, erythritol is created when a type of yeast ferments glucose from corn or wheat starch.
At Lakanto, we use only Non-GMO erythritol that is safe for people with corn allergies. Lakanto sweeteners are safe for people with corn intolerance, sensitivities, or allergies because it doesn’t contain corn proteins that trigger allergic reactions. 100% of corn protein is eliminated during the fermentation process used to create erythritol.
If erythritol is from corn or wheat, does it have yeast?
An understandable concern—let's look at how erythritol is made.
Fermentation takes place in order to produce the sugar alcohol of erythritol. Close to the end of fermentation process, the yeast is completely removed. How do we know there are no yeast residues? We do extensive testing with our erythritol manufacturer in order to ensure, and prove, that the erythritol Lakanto uses is yeast-free.
Why we chose erythritol.
There are all kinds of sweeteners you could try when going off sugar. And if you're reading this article, it's likely you've tried a lot of them! Some are too sweet, and some aren't sweet enough. Thanks to our special recipe of monk fruit and erythritol we are confident, and you can be too, that Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener has the best sugar-like taste on the planet! But even more importantly, we choose erythritol because it meets our allergen, health, and dietary standards.
One last thing to note though, we at Lakanto also have products that do not contain erythritol. While most of our customers choose not to go this route, these products are great solutions for those who are sensitive to, or would otherwise prefer not to consume erythritol. If that sounds like something you're interested in, then check out our Pure Monkfruit Extract and our Liquid Monkfruit Extract.
But if your goal is to replace sugar with the best-tasting and easiest-to-use sugar replacement available, then Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener—with its perfect blend of monk fruit and erythritol—is sure to become your new best friend. There's simply nothing like the feeling when you realize that sugar-free will never be the same again.
Why our fans love Lakanto Monk Fruit sweeteners.
When people drop sugar like the bad habit it is, they need a legitimate replacement. And Lakanto made our line of sweeteners to be the perfect sugar substitute. The number of people who have fallen in love with monk fruit isn't surprising (because it's delish!) but it is exciting. Here's a few things customers say:
"I can't live without this stuff—it makes everything I cook or bake taste amazing! Thanks for creating such a wonderful healthy product I can use on a daily basis in my life and in my family's life!" — Charity Cloyd
"I love Lakanto because I get to enjoy my favorite recipes and not be bogged down by the extra calories. It looks, acts, and tastes like "the real thing" and it gives me the ability to be healthy while not fretting about a yummy dish!" — Heather JoAnn
"I love Lakanto products! They are so much better for my stomach than other sweeteners!" —Kari Cordell
"I adore your regular, powdered and brown sugar. I believe that Lakanto are the creators of the finest keto-friendly sugar in the world. I have tried every other brand of keto-friendly sugar out there and yours is the only one with the right crystal size and consistency, along with amazing taste of nature-made sugar. I love the way I can bake with it. Well Done. I have recommended your products to my family and friends and they love your products just as much as I do." —Serena Gold