Monk fruit sweetener is natural and 100\u2013250 times sweeter than sugar. It contains zero calories and is thought to have antioxidant properties. As people increasingly avoid sugar, alternative sweeteners have become more popular. One popular sweetener is monk fruit sweetener, also called monk fruit extract.\u00a0 Monk fruit sweetener has been around for decades but has recently grown in popularity since it\u2019s become more readily available.<\/p>\n
What is monk fruit sweetener?<\/strong><\/p>\n Monk fruit sweetener is extracted from monk fruit. The monk fruit is also known as luo han guo or \u201cBuddha fruit.\u201d It\u2019s a small, round fruit grown in Southeast Asia. The sweetener is created by removing the seeds and skin of the fruit and crushing it to collect the juice, which is then dried into a concentrated powder. Monk fruit contains natural sugars, mainly fructose and glucose.\u00a0 However, unlike in most fruits, the natural sugars in monk fruit aren\u2019t responsible for its sweetness. Instead, it gets its intense sweetness from unique antioxidants called mogrosides. During processing, mogrosides are separated from the fresh-pressed juice. Therefore, monk fruit sweetener does not contain fructose or glucose.<\/p>\n Because this extract may be 100\u2013250 times sweeter than table sugar, many manufacturers mix monk fruit sweetener with other natural products, such as inulin or erythritol, to reduce the intensity of the sweetness. Monk fruit extract is now used as a standalone sweetener, an ingredient in food and drinks, a flavor enhancer, and a component of sweetener blends.<\/p>\n Effect on weight management<\/strong><\/p>\n Monk fruit sweetener has been claimed to aid weight loss. Since it contains zero calories, many people suggest that it can reduce your total calorie intake. Nevertheless, it\u2019s relatively new to the market, and no studies have assessed its effects on weight. However, studies on other low-calorie sweeteners indicate that it may lead to modest reductions in body weight.<\/p>\n Studies report that replacing regular-calorie sweeteners with low-calorie versions can result in modest weight loss of less than 2 pounds (0.9 kg). One review found that people who consumed low-calorie sweeteners and drinks also tended to consume less added fat, sugar, alcohol, and other sources of empty calories. In another study, people who used stevia or aspartame rather than sucrose ate fewer calories without reporting any differences in hunger levels.<\/p>\n Other potential health benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n A specific type of mogroside called mogroside V is the main component of monk fruit sweetener. It comprises more than 30% of the product and is responsible for its sweetness.Studies show that the mogrosides have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.For these reasons, they may offer health benefits.<\/p>\n Is it safe?<\/strong><\/p>\n Monk fruit sweetener is relatively new to the market, as the FDA only recognized it as generally safe in 2010. Unlike other low-calorie sweeteners, monk fruit extract doesn\u2019t have many studies examining its effects. However, this doesn\u2019t mean that it\u2019s harmful. Monk fruit has been used as a food for hundreds of years, and there have been no reported side effects from eating the sweetener.<\/p>\n The bottom line<\/strong><\/p>\n As the name implies, monk fruit sweetener is derived from the juice of monk fruit. Although more research is needed, it appears to be a safe and healthy sugar alternative.It\u2019s naturally derived, calorie-free, and may even provide health benefits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source : healthline.com<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Monk fruit sweetener is natural and 100\u2013250 times sweeter than sugar. It contains zero calories and is thought to have antioxidant properties.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-knowledge-articles"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n