Learn all about this zero-calorie, zero-carb, blood sugar-stabilizing magical fruit!
This wonder fruit is a classic example of learning not to judge a book by its cover — or a fruit by its skin. The green or brown fruit, also known as lo han guo, will blend into the produce section without gleaning more than a second glance. But, sweet tooths and health nuts, get excited! This mighty, magical fruit produces a zero-calorie, zero-carb, blood sugar-stabilizing, all-purpose sweetener. Extracted from the dried version of monk fruit, this sweetener refrains from giving off the normal side effects of non-nutritive sweeteners, such as gas and bloating. According to the FDA, monk fruit sweetener has no known side effects and has been approved as safe for all consumers, from diabetics to pregnant women.
Processed sugar plays a large role in weight gain. As we eat a sweetened snack, we’ve all felt the highs of sugar rushes and the lows of sugar crashes. These crashes tell our brain that we need to eat more food to re-stabilize. So we reach for another snack. While stabilizing is good, we end up consuming more calories along the way than if we ate a well-rounded snack at the start. Since monk fruit sweetener contains no calories, carbs, or sugars, you can sub it out for your normal spoonful of sugar without any reservations, saving yourself from unnecessary calories and preventing the crash that makes you return to your kitchen for round two.
Monk fruit sweetener serves as a multifunctional treat. You can stir it into your morning coffee or tea, blend it into your fruit smoothie, mix it into your favorite sauces or dressings, and whip it into the batter or dough of your next dessert. Love a little sprinkle on your yogurt or oatmeal? Yep, monk fruit sweetener will work for that too!
Do be careful when searching for monk fruit sweeteners at the grocery store or online. Not all are created equal. Some contain excess processed sugars and chemicals, which defeats the purpose of the substitution.
Lakanto is my favorite brand of monk fruit sweetener. They have everything from sugars to syrups. They even have a line of chocolate bars that I love!