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TOP IT OFF! Is Monk Fruit Syrup Healthy?
Monk fruit syrup has become the keto syrup nowadays. People love it as a sweetener because it’s one hundred to 250 times sweeter than sugar, yet because it’s natural, it contains zero calories and is even said to have antioxidant properties. Monk fruit syrup has been around for decades but has only recently become readily available for consumers.
What Is Monk Fruit Syrup?
Monk fruit syrup is a sweetener extracted from monk fruit, also known as luo han guo, a melon-like fruit (part of the gourd family) native to China and grown in Southeast Asia. It’s a low-calorie sweetener mainly used these days as a sugar substitute.
Like most fruits, monk fruit contains natural sugars such as fructose and glucose. However, its sweetness doesn’t come from these but from antioxidants called mogrosides. Monk fruit syrup is basically a concentrated form of these mogrosides; therefore, it doesn’t contain any sugar. It’s non-nutritive, meaning that it contains zero calories; it’s also low-carbohydrate and no-fat.
How Monk Fruit Syrup Is Made
If you’re wondering how to make natural syrup, specifically monk fruit syrup, the process is fairly simple. Monk fruit syrup is made by first removing the skin and seeds of the fruit and crushing it to collect the juice. This liquid is then filtered to extract mogrosides, which are then turned into the sweetener as syrup or powdered forms.
During production, monk fruit extract is often blended with other natural products like inulin or erythritol to reduce the intensity of its sweetness and to make it taste and look more like regular sugar.
How Monk Fruit Syrup Is Used
Monk fruit syrup is used as a standalone sweetener, a flavor enhancer, or an ingredient to sweeten food and drinks. You can use it for coffee or tea, to sprinkle onto breakfast items, to whip into frosting or a mousse, to flavor water, for salad dressings, and for baking.
The ultra sweetness of monk fruit syrup means that a little goes a long way, so it’s best to keep in mind that you probably won’t need it in the same amounts as you would with sugar.
Is Monk Fruit Syrup Healthy?
While monk fruit has been used for decades in traditional Eastern medicine, it’s only been recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a sweetener in 2010 and research about its effects is still ongoing. That said, monk fruit syrup is generally recognized as safe, including in countries like Japan, Australia, and Canada.
Monk fruit syrup doesn't exhibit any harmful side effects, and it even offers a lot of health benefits for those using it as an alternative to regular sugar. Still, it’s recommended to consume monk fruit syrup in moderation.
Benefits of Monk Fruit Syrup
Monk fruit syrup’s health benefits are primarily thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. Here are some ways that it’s good for you:
Supports Weight Loss
Monk fruit syrup contains zero calories, which can aid in reducing a person’s caloric intake, which can lead to weight loss. Additionally, the mogrosides in monk fruit are metabolized by the body differently than regular sugar, which can help in keeping your weight in check.
Has Antioxidant Effects
The mogrosides in monk fruit are antioxidants, which means that they can scavenge harmful molecules that can cause chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The antioxidant properties of monk fruit syrup also help prevent damage to your DNA.
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-microbial
Monk fruit has compounds that fight inflammation, which can protect you from diseases caused by it. It’s also anti-microbial, which is beneficial for those suffering from gut problems due to bacterial or yeast overgrowth.
Protects Against Cancer
The antioxidants in monk fruit already do a good job of reducing oxidative stress. But it’s also found that monk fruit contains properties that inhibit the growth of cancer cells and even promote cell turnover.
Lowers Risk of Diabetes
Monk fruit syrup is a great option for diabetics because it’s free from calories and carbs. It won’t raise blood sugar levels, and it can also improve your glycemic control and improve insulin response.
How to Add Monk Fruit Syrup to Your Diet
A great way to introduce monk fruit syrup to your diet is to use Skinny Mixes keto and natural syrups. Our wide variety of flavors–including classics like vanilla and caramel–are all sweetened with monk fruit, giving them a kick of sweetness that’ll tickle your tastebuds with zero calories and carbs!
You can use them to flavor your drinks, desserts, or baked goods; you can even add some in a simple glass of water for a delicious dose of flavored H2O. Check out Skinny Mixes keto and natural syrups today!
