What is Erythritol?
If you have tried other sugar substitutes and didn't like them you now have another choice. Erythritol is a sugar substitute but unlike sucralose and aspartame which are made from a chemical process, erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol. Erythritol isn't something new. It has been used in Japan since the 1980s. The USDA approved erythritol for use in the United States in 1990 after it passed their detailed reviews.
Erythritol occurs naturally in different fruits like grapes, pears and melons. It can also be found in some types of mushrooms and in foods that have a fermentation process. Things like wines, beers and cheeses. Over the course of a normal day almost everyone will eat something that naturally contains at least a small amount of erythritol.
How is erythritol made? By taking a carbohydrate such as sucrose or dextrose, mixing it with water, and then fermenting it with a natural culture. The process is very similar to the way yogurt is made. Technically Erythritol is considered a sugar alcohol. But in many respects it is also very different from other sugar alcohols. This is because it has zero calories and none of the laxative-type effects that are sometimes associated with other alcohols.
Many of the artificial sweeteners on the market today are many times sweeter than sugar. With erythritol the opposite is true. Erythritol is only about seventy percent as sweet as sugar. If you use erythritol as your sweetener, you will need to add a little bit more than what you are accustomed to using. Some manufacturers add some additional natural sweeteners to compensate for the sweetness difference. Always check with the manufacturer to see what they recommend.
The biggest difference between erythritol and other sweeteners, artificial and otherwise, is that it has zero effect on the glycemic index. That is sure to make it a hit with diabetics because both glucose and insulin levels will remain unaffected after use. In research tests, it was also highly tolerated, up to one gram for each kilogram of body weight.
Erythritol has some other benefits as well. It is absorbed into the bloodstream and then secreted in the urine. Studies have shown that ninety-percent of it is excreted from the body in urine within twenty-four hours. Because it moves quickly through the small intestine and not slowly like other sugar alcohols, there is much less chance of erythritol having the same laxative effects many people experience with sugar alcohols, such as isomalt, maltitol or xylitol. It also does not mix with acids in the mouth to cause tooth decay.
It is hard to find erythritol in supermarkets. It isn't something a lot of stores are carrying yet. But it can be ordered from health food stores and is most commonly available on the internet. It comes in both powdered, granulated, and liquid forms. Erythritol is also very popular in baking, especially where other sweeteners just don't cut it, like with chocolate. The only reason you don't see erythritol on the contents labels of more reduced-calorie foods is that it is expensive to make. - 17269
Erythritol occurs naturally in different fruits like grapes, pears and melons. It can also be found in some types of mushrooms and in foods that have a fermentation process. Things like wines, beers and cheeses. Over the course of a normal day almost everyone will eat something that naturally contains at least a small amount of erythritol.
How is erythritol made? By taking a carbohydrate such as sucrose or dextrose, mixing it with water, and then fermenting it with a natural culture. The process is very similar to the way yogurt is made. Technically Erythritol is considered a sugar alcohol. But in many respects it is also very different from other sugar alcohols. This is because it has zero calories and none of the laxative-type effects that are sometimes associated with other alcohols.
Many of the artificial sweeteners on the market today are many times sweeter than sugar. With erythritol the opposite is true. Erythritol is only about seventy percent as sweet as sugar. If you use erythritol as your sweetener, you will need to add a little bit more than what you are accustomed to using. Some manufacturers add some additional natural sweeteners to compensate for the sweetness difference. Always check with the manufacturer to see what they recommend.
The biggest difference between erythritol and other sweeteners, artificial and otherwise, is that it has zero effect on the glycemic index. That is sure to make it a hit with diabetics because both glucose and insulin levels will remain unaffected after use. In research tests, it was also highly tolerated, up to one gram for each kilogram of body weight.
Erythritol has some other benefits as well. It is absorbed into the bloodstream and then secreted in the urine. Studies have shown that ninety-percent of it is excreted from the body in urine within twenty-four hours. Because it moves quickly through the small intestine and not slowly like other sugar alcohols, there is much less chance of erythritol having the same laxative effects many people experience with sugar alcohols, such as isomalt, maltitol or xylitol. It also does not mix with acids in the mouth to cause tooth decay.
It is hard to find erythritol in supermarkets. It isn't something a lot of stores are carrying yet. But it can be ordered from health food stores and is most commonly available on the internet. It comes in both powdered, granulated, and liquid forms. Erythritol is also very popular in baking, especially where other sweeteners just don't cut it, like with chocolate. The only reason you don't see erythritol on the contents labels of more reduced-calorie foods is that it is expensive to make. - 17269
About the Author:
Erythritol is a diabetic friendly sweetener. It does everything regular sugar does, except raise your blood sugar levels.
posted by X - Men at
12:36 PM
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