What is Erythritol?
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that is commonly used as a low-calorie sweetener in foods and beverages. It has gained popularity in recent years as a sugar substitute due to its sweetness and low-calorie count.
Most sugar alcohols can be found in natural fruits and vegetables in small amounts. Due to their unique molecular structure, they can stimulate the sweet taste receptors on the human tongue. Erythritol looks and tastes like sugar, but it contains fewer calories.
4 Benefits of Erythritol
1. Low-calorie count
Erythritol has a very low-calorie count, making it an ideal sugar substitute for those who are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy diet. It contains only 0.24 calories per gram, compared to 4 calories per gram in conventional sugar. Erythritol is rapidly absorbed in the bloodstream, (roughly 90% of what you consume is absorbed) and then directly excreted out in your urine.
2. Does not raise blood sugar levels
Erythritol does not affect blood sugar levels, making it a suitable sugar substitute for people with diabetes or those who are trying to regulate their blood sugar levels. Studies indicate erythritol has the potential to be a beneficial replacement for sugar in healthy and diabetic subjects as it exerts no effects on blood glucose or insulin response and it induces gut hormone secretions that modulate satiety to promote weight loss.
3. Does not cause tooth decay
Unlike sugar, erythritol does not contribute to tooth decay. Studies have shown that erythritol can help prevent tooth decay by reducing the growth of oral bacteria that cause cavities. A study in school children found that there are a lower number of dentin caries teeth and surfaces found in the group consuming erythritol vs the control group & even xylitol (another sugar alcohol) It took a longer time to develop caries lesions in the erythritol group.
4. Safe for consumption
Erythritol is safe to consume in multiple studies. It is found to be very safe. Unlike other sugar alcohols in the market, it is mostly absorbed into your bloodstream before it reaches the colon & then is excreted out.
Cons of Erythritol
Erythritol does not have the same chemical properties as sugar, which means it may not be suitable for baking certain recipes. For example, it may not caramelize or brown in the same way as sugar. And also even though it is a great sugar substitute, it is still a relatively novel ingredient. It may be more expensive and harder to find in certain stores.
Conclusion
Erythritol is a low-calorie sugar substitute that has both pros and cons. It is superior to other types of sugar alcohols as it is absorbed into the bloodstream faster & excreted out. It also does not contribute to tooth decay and has been approved as safe for consumption and beneficial to tooth decay.
R’s KOSO is a traditional Japanese fermented drink made from over 100 different fruits, vegetables, seaweeds, and mushrooms, rich in probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics. It has been proven to improve gut health.
This new product contains the same powerful combination of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics that support gut health, but with less sugar.
We have crafted the cleanest recipe possible. R's KOSO Lower Sugar is free from any artificial ingredients. The sugar content was reduced from 9.3g per 15 ml to 2.7g (including 0g added sugars) per 15 ml compared to our regular R’s KOSO with the help of stevia and erythritol. For those who struggle with glycemic (blood sugar) control, or follow strict meal plans, the low-sugar version of Koso maximizes the microbial benefit.
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