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Monk Fruit: What You Need to Know About the Zero-Calorie Sweetener

Disclaimer

Sugar is connected to a number of adverse health effects. Added sugar in particular is correlated with a number of chronic diseases, including:

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Diets high in added sugar promote the development of metabolic disease both directly — by dysregulating lipid and carbohydrate metabolism — and indirectly by inducing body weight and fat gain[*].

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), you should not be consuming more than 25-36 grams of sugar a day — and that’s just a limit, not a recommendation[*].

In reality, the average American consumes more than two times that amount — 88 grams of sugar daily, or 22.2 teaspoons[*]. This rapid spike in sugar consumption comes thanks to how readily-available sugar-laden foods have become[*].

To cut down on sugar consumption but still enjoy the foods you once loved, you might consider incorporating sugar-free, keto-friendly sweeteners into your meal plan. This includes one you might not have heard of: monk fruit. 

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what this fruit is, why it’s preferable to other keto-friendly sweeteners like stevia, and where to buy it.

What Is Monk Fruit?

Monk fruit is a green gourd grown in Southeast Asia, particularly southern China and Thailand. Also known as Lo Han Guo and siraitia grosvenorii, it has long been used in Eastern medicine as a common cold and digestive remedy[*]. Recently, it found its way to food markets across the U.S. as a zero-carb sweetener.

Monk fruit is known for its incredibly sweet taste. It contains compounds that are 250 times sweeter than regular sugar, without the calories or negative effects on blood glucose levels[*]. This makes it a sweet substitute for table sugar.

History of This Fruit

Monk fruit grew on steep, forested mountains in tiny family orchards for hundreds of years. Once harvested, the fruit had to be dried before being distributed all throughout Asian communities where it was used as a low-calorie sweetener and remedy. It’s named after the Buddhist monks who first cultivated it nearly 800 years ago.

A Modern, Zero-Calorie Sweetener

Monk fruit was brought to North America in the early 20th century by a group from the National Geographic Society. Today, consumers in the United States enjoy the zero-calorie sweetener in baking, while manufacturers use it to make products more palatable. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) categorizes monk fruit as “generally recognized as safe”[*].

Monk fruit extract is manufactured in a few different ways. The most common involves harvesting the fresh fruit, boiling pure monk fruit in hot water then drying it afterwards. This creates a powdered extract that looks like stevia.

Today, it’s a popular alternative over low-calorie sweeteners like stevia because of its sweeter taste, virtually no aftertaste, and potential antioxidant effects[*]. Monk fruit can be used in keto baking, as a sweetener in tea and coffee, or mixed into your morning smoothie.

7 Health Benefits of Monk Fruit

Monk fruit is packed with health benefits — most of which extend beyond the waist line. Here are seven incredible ways it impacts your health.

Health benefits of monk fruit

 

#1: It Helps Fight Infection

Monk fruit has anti-infection properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria, helping to prevent a sore throat and cough[*]. Studies have shown that monk fruit has the ability to fend off some symptoms of candida such as oral thrush (fungal infection)[*].

#2: It May Decrease Your Risk of Diabetes

The fruit was used as an anti-diabetic medication long before it was known as a low-calorie sweetener. Studies show it might help lower glucose levels and increase secrete insulin secretion[*]. This effect can increase insulin sensitivity, which both diabetic and healthy people need for a normal metabolism.

#3: It Has Anti-Cancer Properties

The antioxidants in monk fruit show promising cancer-preventing properties. One study found that a particular mogroside, mogroside V, has the ability to inhibit the progression of pancreatic cancer cells in mice[*]. Another study showed that the fruit had anticancer effects in colorectal and throat cancer[*].

#4: It Helps Reduce Inflammation

Chronic Inflammation is a silent killer. It prevents your body from functioning and healing correctly, making all your health goals more difficult to accomplish. Studies demonstrate that monk fruit contains anti-inflammatory effects, contributing to disease prevention[*].

#5: It Might Help Fight Fatigue

One study done on mice concluded that monk fruit extract may help decrease fatigue. The study showed that mice given monk fruit extract were able to exercise for longer periods of time compared to mice who weren’t consuming monk fruit[*].

#6: It Could Aid in Weight Loss

The increase in consumption of grains and sugars over the last hundreds of years resulted in a worldwide obesity epidemic. Americans now consume up to 13 times more sugar than their ancestors in the 1800s. In 2017, America became the most obese nation in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development), followed by Mexico and New Zealand[*].

Using monk fruit as a zero-calorie sweetener instead of sugar can help overweight people decrease their total caloric intake while simultaneously battling sugar cravings[*].

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#7: It May Relieve Allergy Symptoms

When you experience an allergic reaction, your body releases different chemicals into your system, one being histamine. Histamine is responsible for allergy symptoms like coughing, itching, and inflammation. In one study conducted in mice, monk fruit extract was able to reduce histamine and asthmatic reactions[*].

Comparison to Other Sugar Alternatives

If you’re low-carb, you’ve probably tried other alternatives to sugar like stevia and sugar alcohols. Monk fruit provides additional advantages that may be worth the switch.

Here’s how the fruit stacks up against other alternative sweeteners.

Artificial Sweeteners

Non-nutritive sweeteners like sugar alcohols, became increasingly popular over the past several decades because they significantly decreased the calorie count of various foods. Unfortunately, sugar-free, calorie-free sugar alcohols like aspartame, dextrose, erythritol, and sucralose can be harmful to your health.

One study showed that sucralose was responsible for damaging the gut microbiome and inducing liver inflammation in mice[*].

Meanwhile, aspartame consumption, even in small doses, may[*]:

  • Disrupt the oxidant and antioxidant balance
  • Induce oxidative stress
  • Damage cell membrane integrity
  • Deregulate cellular function
  • Cause systemic inflammation

Monk fruit sweetener is an extract from a protective plant and it’s free from these side effects.

Agave or Maple Syrup

Unlike other “natural sweeteners,” monk fruit sweetener contains zero carbohydrates. Therefore, it won’t negatively impact your blood sugar levels. Agave, honey, and maple syrup contain sugar and carbohydrates that spike your blood sugar levels and kick you out of ketosis.

One tablespoon of maple syrup contains over 50 calories and 13 grams of carbs — 12 of which are sugar[*]. Monk fruit ranks zero on the glycemic index, where honey comes in at 55[*].

One teaspoon of monk fruit sweetener has only 0.4 grams of carbohydrates. It would take up to 80 teaspoons of monk fruit sweetener just to consume 30 grams of carbs (a common daily allotment on keto).

Stevia

The sweetener most similar to monk fruit is stevia. Both options contain zero calories, carbs, and sugar. Both come from a natural source (the stevia leaf and whole fruit). Both are suitable for low-sugar baking because they are heat stable.

But monk fruit wins out over stevia because of its fewer side effects.

Stevia has been known to cause gastrointestinal discomfort in some people, including gas, nausea, and bloating, although evidence is limited[*]. This may be due to chemical processing, where stevia is mixed with sugar alcohols.

How and Where to Buy Monk Fruit

Monk fruit is available in liquid, granule, and powdered forms. You can also purchase it dried at Chinese markets, which can be enjoyed in hot tea. Make sure to pick a brand that contains only monk fruit sweetener and isn’t mixed with other sweeteners that could spike your blood sugar.

Because it’s harder to grow than cane sugar or the stevia plant, it’s more expensive to import than other sweeteners and you might see a higher price tag. However, if you want to sweeten your food without worrying about carbs, a stevia aftertaste, or GI distress, the investment is worth it.

When shopping for keto-friendly products, if you find monk fruit as the only sweetener on the label, that’s a good sign.

Satisfy Your Cravings Without Sugar

Monk fruit might be the low-calorie sweetener you’ve been looking for. Compared to other sugar substitutes like maple syrup, honey, and agave, it’s completely keto-friendly. 

Stacked against other zero-calorie options like artificial sweeteners and stevia, this exotic fruit has the least amount of negative side effects associated with it.

Monk fruit has been around for centuries and is considered one of the healthiest all-natural sweeteners on the market. Not only does it make your keto food and drinks sweeter, it contains antioxidants like mogrosides and preliminary studies show it may be able to fight inflammation, infections, and fatigue[*].

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To continue enjoying your favorite sweet treats, eliminate white sugar and try this fruit instead. You can find monk fruit online or in some health food stores — and remember, a little bit goes a long way. Add a teaspoon of monk fruit sweetener to your favorite low-carb desserts for an added sweet taste.

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