Erythritol: What Is It?
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 several different kinds of fruit, including pears, grapes, and melons. It is also present in some types of mushrooms and in foods that have a fermentation process like wines, beers and cheeses. It is estimated that during the course of a normal day, everyone will eat something that contains at least a small amount of erythritol, up to a max of around 100 mg.
Erythritol is produced by taking a carbohydrate such as sucrose or dextrose, mixing it with water, and then fermenting it with a natural culture. The process is similar to the way yogurt is made. Erythritol is technically referred to as a polyol, or sugar alcohol but it is also very different from other sugar alcohols. That because it has zero calories and none of the laxative-type effects that are associated with these other alcohols.
Many of the artificial sweeteners for sale today are many times sweeter than regular sugar. With erythritol the opposite is true. Erythritol tends to only be about seventy percent as sweet as regular sugar. If you use erythritol as your sweetener, you will need to add a little bit more than what you are accustomed to using. It should be noted though; some manufacturers add some additional natural sweeteners to their erythritol to compensate for the difference in sweetness. 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, but it can be ordered by many health food stores and is available on the internet. It comes in both powdered, granulated, and liquid forms. It is 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. - 17273
Erythritol occurs naturally in several different kinds of fruit, including pears, grapes, and melons. It is also present in some types of mushrooms and in foods that have a fermentation process like wines, beers and cheeses. It is estimated that during the course of a normal day, everyone will eat something that contains at least a small amount of erythritol, up to a max of around 100 mg.
Erythritol is produced by taking a carbohydrate such as sucrose or dextrose, mixing it with water, and then fermenting it with a natural culture. The process is similar to the way yogurt is made. Erythritol is technically referred to as a polyol, or sugar alcohol but it is also very different from other sugar alcohols. That because it has zero calories and none of the laxative-type effects that are associated with these other alcohols.
Many of the artificial sweeteners for sale today are many times sweeter than regular sugar. With erythritol the opposite is true. Erythritol tends to only be about seventy percent as sweet as regular sugar. If you use erythritol as your sweetener, you will need to add a little bit more than what you are accustomed to using. It should be noted though; some manufacturers add some additional natural sweeteners to their erythritol to compensate for the difference in sweetness. 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, but it can be ordered by many health food stores and is available on the internet. It comes in both powdered, granulated, and liquid forms. It is 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. - 17273
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While erythritol may be hard to find in stores, you can find and buy erythritol online.
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