Sweeteners have earned a bad rap recently, and people are looking for healthy and appealing alternatives. You still deserve a sweet treat now and then, whether you mind your weight, insulin levels, attention span, or all of the above.
Table Of Contents
−- The best monk fruit sweeteners
- 1. It’s Just! – 100% monk fruit extract powder
- 2. Smart138 Monk Drops liquid sweetener
- 3. Purisure monk fruit extract
- 4. NOW Foods Monk Fruit Liquid Organic
- 5. Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener
- 6. MONK FRUIT IN THE RAW, Keto-Certified Zero Calorie Sweetener packets
- 7. ZenSweet- All Natural Monk Fruit Sugar-Free Sweetener
- 8. All-Purpose Granular Monkfruit Sweetener (with Erythritol)
- 9. Namanna Monk Fruit Natural Sweetener
- What is monk fruit, and what are the benefits?
- Popular sweetener additives
- Alternative all-natural sweeteners
- Alternative artificial sweeteners
- How are monk fruit sweeteners produced?
- FAQs
- Conclusion
It’s ridiculous to expect people to go without sweets, and it’s not a way most people want to live their life, healthy or not.
For various reasons, monk fruit is becoming a more popular sugar substitute. Because of its popularity, there are wide monk fruit varieties, and not all are created equal.
What is the best monk sweetener? The best monk fruit sweetener is made entirely of monk fruit. The majority of monk fruit sweeteners are blended with other sweeteners. Monk fruit has a distinct flavor that takes some getting used to, but it’s a terrific way to add sweetness to your life without jeopardizing your health.
The best monk fruit sweeteners
Let’s have some of the most popular monk fruit sweetener options available today now that you’re prepared for additional ingredients in your monk fruit sweetener.
1. It’s Just! – 100% monk fruit extract powder
This brand lives up to its name in every way. When it says, “that’s just monk fruit,” they mean exactly what they say. There is only one ingredient on this packaging: pure, non-GMO monk fruit extract.
Their product is not only a healthier alternative to sugar, but it is also a stronger sweetener than sugar, so a little goes a long way.
Make sure you don’t use too much of this sweetener because it delivers a punch. They give a conversion ratio for your convenience on the back of the package. The flavor is so similar to sugar that you might not detect the difference.
Key features:
- Only one ingredient, 100% monk fruit
- Non-GMO
- Because it’s so concentrated, a little goes a long way
2. Smart138 Monk Drops liquid sweetener
Smart138 is so confident in its product that they’ve implemented a money-back guarantee without questions. But trust us when we say you won’t need that refund.
This product contains 100 percent monk fruit extract in a handy dropper container. It’s so intense that water isn’t even included among the components.
The liquid is easier to dissolve than monk fruit powder and is less likely to leave a mess on your counter. It will, however, need to be refrigerated to avoid spoilage.
Key features:
- There are no other ingredients beyond monk fruit extract
- Liquid form with a high concentration
- Guaranteed money-back
3. Purisure monk fruit extract
Purisure is the only monk fruit extract we identified that is 100 percent pure and has no additive.
It is thoroughly tested to ensure that the quality is top-notch and that no heavy metals or potentially harmful microorganisms are present. It isn’t certified organic by the USDA but is grown without pesticides or herbicides.
The most significant disadvantage of this extract is that the flavor may take some getting used to, as it does not promise to be similar to table sugar.
Key features:
- There are no additives, flavorings, fillers, or alternative ingredients, natural or artificial.
- A 100% money-back guarantee is helpful if the flavor is too strange for your taste buds.
4. NOW Foods Monk Fruit Liquid Organic
Because the cane alcohol used to moderate the sweetness of the monk fruit is organic and utilized in very small quantities, this liquid extract ranks highly in our rankings.
“Our Organic Monk Fruit extract needs a carrier to help it remain stable and contaminant-free in a liquid environment,” the producer says of this added component.
Alcohol is the greatest ingredient because it helps prevent mildew, salmonella, and other infections from growing in the bottle and allows it to be kept unrefrigerated for a long time.”
That sounds like a compelling argument, and the monk fruit’s honesty shines through wonderfully with this product.
The most significant disadvantage of this product is that it has a mild aftertaste comparable to that of artificial sweeteners. This is a terrific alternative for you if you’re looking to make a healthier, more natural choice and are used to the zing.
Key features:
- Because it’s a liquid, it’ll work well in liquids, and only a few drops are required to achieve the desired sweetness level.
- It’s made at a reputable facility that doesn’t use wheat or gluten, milk, eggs, soy, fish or shellfish, or tree nuts in any way.
5. Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener
One of the things we admire about Lakanto is that they continue to produce and harvest the Monk fruit used in their products in the original, pristine area where meditating Buddhist monks used to assemble.
They also adhere to traditional and eco-friendly techniques. This is one of the products that contain Erythritol, which might have negative side effects if taken in high doses or by someone who has a sensitivity to it or has a digestive condition. This product has received rave reviews if you don’t fit into any of those categories.
Key features:
- It’s been meticulously created to be a 1:1 replacement for all of your sugary recipes, making it a simple swap that tastes wonderful and contains no carbs or calories.
- Has been proven to be a safe option for people following a keto, paleo, or vegan diet, diabetics, and those with candida.
6. MONK FRUIT IN THE RAW, Keto-Certified Zero Calorie Sweetener packets
This popular monk fruit sweetener used to contain maltodextrin, but the formula has recently been modified to add erythritol.
This adjustment was made to certify Monk Fruit In The Raw as Keto formally. Low-carb people can now safely take this product because it does not affect their glucose levels like maltodextrin.
Key features:
- It tastes just like table sugar and leaves no aftertaste.
- Gluten-free, vegan, Keto, and Kosher options are also available.
7. ZenSweet- All Natural Monk Fruit Sugar-Free Sweetener
The taste and proportions of ZenSweet have received rave reviews. However, it contains erythritol, so it’s not pure Monk fruit.
If yoIt appears to be a good option are searching for an easy way to replace sugar in your recipes, it appears to be a good option.
This is one of the few products containing inulin, a natural prebiotic fiber found in Chicory root.
If your gut health isn’t a problem, this can help your beneficial bacteria thrive and keep your gut healthy, which is a nice bonus for a sugar substitute.
Key features:
- This company places a premium on high-quality ingredients and ensures that they are non-GMO, which is fantastic news, especially regarding erythritol.
- Measure cup-for-cup for sugar replacement.
8. All-Purpose Granular Monkfruit Sweetener (with Erythritol)
If you like the Monk fruit sweetener with Erythritol that you’ve tested, the main advantage of this brand is the bulk availability. It lowers the cost of using a sweetener, which can add up quickly. Table sugar is inexpensive, which allows you to maintain your baking frequency and prices consistent while avoiding the drawbacks of using table sugar.
Key features:
- Co-crystallization is used in manufacturing, producing a homogenous sweet flavor with no unpleasant aftertaste.
9. Namanna Monk Fruit Natural Sweetener
One more thing to think about is Erythritol, which is non-GMO. The resealable package is an unexpectedly useful addition, and it’s widely regarded as one of the best-tasting sugar substitutes.
Key features:
- Using no other additives or pesticides, this product is made with non-GMO erythritol and Monk Fruit extract
- This product is unique in that it is Kosher and Halal certified.
What is monk fruit, and what are the benefits?
In commemorating the luóhàn monks who first grew the fruit, monk fruit is also known as “Luo Han Guo.” It’s a little green melon that grows wild in northern Thailand and southern China’s jungles. For generations, it’s been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine, primarily for respiratory problems.
When the west gained access to this fruit, it was praised for its deliciousness. This sweetener, up to 200 times sweeter than sugar and has no calories or carbs, is causing a stir in our dessert-obsessed culture.
And we’re having a blast doing it! Most fruits obtain their sweetness from fructose and glucose, two sugars that mess with blood sugar levels and are connected to many other issues. The flavor of monk fruit comes from mogrocide, which is an antioxidant.
The extract has no calories or carbs and will not alter your blood glucose levels in any way because the sweetness isn’t derived from sugar. This is fantastic news for people with diabetes… and practically everyone is concerned about how sugar affects their health.
Monk fruit sweeteners are a godsend for anyone trying to reduce weight or maintain a healthy blood sugar and energy level. Because it is the body, like conventional sugar doesn’t metabolize, it can enjoy a sweet treat without jeopardizing your healthy eating plan.
Because it is an antioxidant, your desserts may aid in managing inflammatory levels in your body and may even have anti-cancer properties. When you consider that there are no known adverse effects, it may be time to make strategic changes to your pantry and grocery list.
Popular sweetener additives
It’s crucial to discuss the substances frequently cut with monk fruit. Because fruit extract is 200 times sweeter than table sugar, it’s frequently combined with other ingredients to balance the sweetness and make it more suitable for baking and general consumption.
Erythritol
This is the most commonly used additional component and is completely natural. It’s a sugar alcohol, which means it’s commonly made from cane sugar or maize, but it contains very few calories and has no effect on blood glucose levels because it’s alcohol.
Because our systems cannot process it to use it for energy, it is discarded as soon as it is consumed, though not before satisfying our sweet-toothed taste buds.
Because erythritol is about 70% as sweet as table sugar, it pairs well with monk fruit, which is also quite sweet. Most people will also admit that it tastes quite similar to sugar, making it a simple substitute to adjust to.
It is safe for human consumption, and most studies show it is very easy to digest. However, erythritol can produce gas, bloating, or diarrhea if you have a natural resistance to the drug or if you have considerable gastrointestinal distress, such as leaky gut syndrome.
Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a corn, rice, potato starch, or wheat derivative. It’s heavily processed and has a glycemic index of 150, which is exceptionally high. It has a similar structure to corn syrups but with lower sugar content.
Maltodextrin has been certified by the US Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, but this does not mean it is completely safe.
Many people like Monk fruit sweetener because it does not affect blood sugar levels, but it will if maltodextrin is added. Anything with this ingredient should be avoided if you have diabetes, insulin resistance, or are looking for a Keto-friendly sweetener.
It’s utilized in most foods, especially monk fruit sweeteners, because it’s a convenient filler. It will balance the sweetness of the monk fruit extract, making the finished product more comparable to sugar in terms of consumption.
It’s also inexpensive and simple to make and serves as a preservative, so it’s a popular choice among manufacturers, but it’s not necessarily the best option for customers.
Allulose
Although allulose isn’t as widespread as sugar substitutes, it did come up in our investigation on monk fruit sweeteners. Wheat, figs, and raisins all contain minor amounts of it naturally.
Manufacturers have recently been able to transform fructose from corn and other plants into allulose using enzymes. It’s a fascinating substance that hasn’t gotten much attention. Allulose has the same chemical formula as fructose but is organized differently. Your body does not absorb or use it for energy due to this little change but instead eliminates it.
This implies that, although having a taste and texture that is extremely similar to table sugar, it does not affect blood sugar.
In the United States, it is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), but there haven’t been many studies done, so it’s difficult to be entirely sure if it’s safe until more study is done.
Xylitol
Though we didn’t discover it in any of our top monk fruit sweeteners, xylitol is a popular additive and sweetener, so it’s worth mentioning.
It’s made from corn or birch wood, and it’s found in a wide range of fruits and vegetables. It has fewer calories than sugar but isn’t fully free of them, causing a surge in blood sugar and failing the Keto-friendly test.
Because xylitol, unlike most sugars, does not derive its sweetness from fructose, it is typically seen as a healthier option.
Sugar alcohols might function as a laxative and induce intestinal discomfort if you are sensitive to them. It’s also extremely harmful to dogs, so keep your four-legged family members away from any baking you do with this sweetener.
Alternative all-natural sweeteners
If you’re still not persuaded that monk fruit is a sugar substitute for you, there are a variety of other natural sweeteners on the market, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
Stevia
Stevia is a popular natural sweetener derived from the shrub herb Rebiana, which is related to the lovely chrysanthemum.
The fact that it is calorie-free is the most notable advantage. It’s also been looked into for its ability to decrease blood pressure and keep insulin levels stable. The most prevalent gripe is over the flavor. Stevia leaves an unpleasant aftertaste in most people.
Swerve
Swerve is a brand of erythritol, oligosaccharides, and natural tastes sweeteners. We’ve previously covered the benefits and drawbacks of erythritol, so let’s move on to oligosaccharides.
These are sugary carbohydrates found in fruits and some starchy vegetables. They’re classified as prebiotic fibers, which means they’re not digested for energy but end up feeding your gut microbes.
Natural flavors can be nearly anything, and they aren’t discussed in greater depth is unsettling. Their function, however, is to make the product taste more like table sugar. It has the same measurement as sugar but does not affect blood sugar levels.
Agave nectar
Agave was extremely popular for a brief period in history, but it faded from view as more research was conducted. While it is natural sugar, it is primarily fructose, the sugar most strongly linked to insulin resistance, obesity, and other chronic disorders. Although it is less processed than table sugar, it may be much more harmful to your health.
Alternative artificial sweeteners
We’ve already discussed natural sweeteners, but a few artificial sweeteners are also worth discussing. Artificial sugar replacements fool your taste buds into thinking they’re tasting sweetness when they’re not.
They are typically sweeter than table sugar yet has few or no calories.
Aspartame
In the food sector, aspartame is commonly utilized, particularly in “diet” goods. It’s sold under the NutraSweet and Equal brand names.
Although the components of aspartame are naturally occurring amino acids, the manufacturing process is entirely synthetic. When your body breaks it down, it generates methanol, which is poisonous in large amounts, which is the most contentious part of this sweetener.
Although there isn’t enough evidence to prove safety or hazard, anti-aspartame advocates say it’s related to everything from headaches and weight gain to cancer, MS, Alzheimer’s, and even mental illness.
Saccharin
Saccharin has been used to sweeten foods and beverages for over a century, but it gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. It is now primarily recognized by the brand name Sweet’N Low.
It was created in a laboratory and cannot be considered natural. It’s 700 times sweeter than table sugar, and because the human body doesn’t know what to do with it, it’s indigestible. Although it is generally safe to consume, research has linked it to cancer. The harsh aftertaste is the most typical complaint.
Sucralose
One of the most popular artificial sweeteners is sucralose, usually offered under the brand name Splenda. Although it is 600 times sweeter than table sugar, it is suitable for practically all culinary and baking applications.
It’s manufactured in a lab through a chemical process, but it doesn’t have the sour aftertaste many other sweeteners have. Because it contains dextrose and maltodextrin, it may impact blood sugar levels, but such a small amount is required that this is improbable.
Because this substance was once so popular for its usage in baked goods, further research on the effects of heat on the compounds has lately been conducted. It’s becoming increasingly contentious, as some studies imply that heating sucralose increases cancer risks.
How are monk fruit sweeteners produced?
Monk fruit has been used in Eastern medicine for millennia as a cold intestinal remedy. Monk fruit extracts are also used in tabletop sweeteners to sweeten packaged goods and beverages.
Monk fruit sweeteners are made by removing the fruit’s seeds and peel, crushing them, and then filtering and extracting the fruit’s sweet parts into liquid and powdered forms.
Monk fruit extract is frequently combined with erythritol in manufacturing monk fruit sweeteners to make them taste and appear more like table sugar. Erythritol, commonly known as a sugar alcohol, is a polyol with no calories per gram.
FAQs
Is Monk fruit sweetener keto?
Yes, monk fruit extract is an excellent keto-friendly sweetener because it has no calories or carbohydrates. However, double-check the components list to ensure that your chosen brand is pure. Some manufacturers use sugar, molasses, or other sugar substitutes, which can change the calorie or carb count.
What is the Glycemic Index of monk fruit?
Zero! Monk fruit extract is up to 200 times sweeter than sugar, but it has no carbs or calories, so it will not affect your blood sugar levels. It has a glycemic index of 0 and is low in sugar.
What are the side effects of monk fruit?
Monk fruit is a completely natural sweetener with no known adverse effects yet. It has undergone scientific testing and has been authorized by the FDA as a “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) food item. Just make sure you purchase a pure form of the sweetener, so you don’t have to deal with the additives’ adverse effects.
Is monk fruit sweetener healthier than stevia?
Both stevia and monk fruit sweeteners appear to be equally healthy in terms of nutrition. Both are extremely low in calories and are technically 0-calorie foods.
Neither influence blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes and anyone with sugar intolerances can enjoy them. The only thing to remember is that they have distinct flavor profiles. Some people believe stevia has a bitter aftertaste, so monk fruit may win out if you’re torn between the two.
Furthermore, because monk fruit belongs to the gourd family, you should evaluate whether you are allergic to it. If you’re allergic to gourds, stevia might be a better option because it’s less likely to induce an allergic reaction.
Does monk fruit raise insulin levels?
No, monk fruit does not affect blood sugar levels and does not cause insulin to increase. They are safe for people with diabetes and sugar or insulin intolerances.
They are a safe substitute for white sugar and a refreshing departure from conventional sweeteners.
Does monk fruit sweetener taste bitter?
Unlike stevia and other sweeteners, Monk sweeteners are not known to have a particularly bitter unpleasant aftertaste. The majority of customers find them to be quite enjoyable.
That said, the taste is subjective rather than relative, so how monk fruit sweeteners taste will differ from person to person.
Conclusion
More research is needed to understand monk fruit’s health effects fully. Still, it appears to be a decent option for people with diabetes and anyone who wishes to minimize their sugar intake. Many claims have been made regarding the fruit’s ability to cure cancer and other diseases, but no research has been done to back them up.
According to this study, many non-nutritive sweeteners affect gut bacteria and the lining of the intestines. Give it a shot if you’re interested in using monk fruit instead of sugar in your favorite recipes or morning coffee. Make sure to talk to your doctor about any health concerns regarding sugar replacements first.
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Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
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