Do you know how to sweeten your meal with zero carbs?

Nature has already created this shortcut for you. So, let's journey together as we acquire this know-how.

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This pure miracle for sweet lovers is called monk fruit. Oddly enough, it has no calories though it is many times sweater than sugar. It is absolutely natural, since the sweetener is produced by simply crystallizing the juice from the fruit itself.

How does monk fruit look like?

As you can see on the picture above, this gift from nature is a small round fruit about the size of a walnut.

In the past, monk fruit was a rarity. It was cultivated and used by the monks in Tibet. People referred to it as "the fruit of the monks", or a "monk fruit", or a "Buddha fruit". This nature's delight has also a scientific name of Luo Han Guo, and it has been used for centuries by Traditional Chinese Medicine to reduce inflammation.

What is the chemical composition of monk fruit?

Although this puzzling little fellow's sugars are predominantly fructose and glucose, neither substance is present in the final product, which comes in the form of a fine, white powder similar to powdered sugar. How this is possible and if it is, what is the carrier of the sweet taste? Stunningly, the sweetness of the final extract comes from the fruit's antioxidants (explained below) which are abundant. The largest and most studied monk fruit antioxidants are the mongrosides (Chen at al, Int J Food Sci Nutr, 2007 Nov;58(7):548-56.)

So, just what are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are substances ingested in or produced by our bodies, which are capable of repairing cellular damage.

If the body cannot repair itself, disease will result. Needless to say, we all want and need a good amount of antioxidants in our food. What a delight it is, therefore, to enjoy the taste of sugar without the real sugar's negative effects on our bodies.

Where can you find it?

You can buy it in the grocery store or online. However, it is not always in a pure form and some manufactures add inulin or erythritol to the fruit extract to reduce its sweetness to the level of a regular table sugar. Inulin and erythritol are generally pretty neutral substances but in some people they may cause cramping, bloating and diarrhea, so be aware. Some of the products have added stevia, which, in my opinion, defeats the purpose of having a pure, sugar-free sweetener. So, please, for those for whom this matters, read the labels and chose the brand you prefer for your own body.

How should monk fruit extract be used? You can use it in your tea and in your smoothies, or you can bake with it. In general, you can use it the same way you use your table sugar.

Enjoy a healthy and inspired life.

From my heart to yours,

Dr. Ani

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