SUGAR FROM WINE, BEER
& MUSHROOMS?
Q. I have been using stevia as a sweetener for
vegetable heavy smoothies for my lunch the last week or so. I found one that
has me concerned when I look at the ingredients. Truvia™. It has a chemical called Erythirtol which adds
3 carbs. per serving. I'm curious as to your
thoughts on it?
Mike M.
A. As artificial sweeteners go Erythirtol seems
to be the lesser of evils. Erythirtol,
which is a sugar alcohol, can be found naturally occurring in small amounts in
grapes, melons, mushrooms and fermented foods such as wine, beer, cheese and
soy sauce.
Manufacturers derive
Erythirtol from plant sources (most likely corn, soy beans and sugar cane) and
they claim that its mild, sweet taste balances out the bitterness of other
natural sweeteners such as stevia (primary ingredient in Truvia). They also claim that Erythirtol has nearly no
calories, only 0.2 calories per gram and it does not affect blood sugar or
insulin levels and has a "zero" gylcemic index.
I always prefer to get my
food sweetness from natural (less refined) sources such as fruit, honey,
turbinado etc. However, the
manufacturers of Truvia have probably picked one of the best refined,
artificial sweeteners to add to their product.
I would use it only with guarded moderation.
AMV
*Health Disclaimer: This
information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational
and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute
for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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