Stevia/Monk Fruit blend as a sugar substitute

When it comes to sugar substitutes there are usually three problems that prevail. They either have just as many calories as the sweet cane product, offer health risks, or they are bitter to the taste. Honey, Agave nectar, and molasses all are loaded with calories. Aspartame has been shown in studies over the decades to possibly be linked to cancer in test animals, while Stevia and Truvia are too bitter for the taste of most and leave a strong after taste. What the masses have longed for is a calorie-free sugar substitute that tastes just like the crystals from the pure cane. it looks like now there might finally be one that comes pretty close.

Everyone's taste buds are different and there is no one size fits all. I share this information because although it may not benefit everyone, there is someone who will have a good review. I was shopping in Food Lion recently and ran across a sugar substitute called Whole Earth Sweetener that was a blend of Stevia and Monk Fruit. A 9.8-ounce container was $6.00 so I decided to give it a try. The first thing my tastebuds noticed was that this combination tasted much more like sugar than other substitutes I had tried. To make sure there was one test that I had to put this product through.

I have no issue with sugar substitutes when it comes to adding them to food or drinks, except when it comes to java. I am a coffee lover and drink 2 or 3 cups each morning. I have tried Splenda, Equal, Sweet n Low and store brands of these artificial sweeteners but my coffee always tasted bitter or there was an unpleasant after taste. For this reason, I went back to using table sugar, which of course is adding calories to my diet. This morning I added the Stevia/Monk fruit blend and my coffee and had 3 cups.

It tasted pretty close to the way my java does when I add regular sugar and I am pleased. This is the first time in 30 years that a product other than pure cane crystals has made my cup of Joe taste almost just right. There is a slight aftertaste but it's not nearly as strong as with Stevia alone or the artificial sweeteners. I believe in time that I will adjust and be able to use this product long term. The good news is that the Stevia/Monk fruit blend is not artificial but natural, as well as Keto friendly.

If you are wondering at this point what a Monk Fruit is I am so glad you asked that question because I have an answer. We all know by now that Stevia comes from the leaves of a plant but a Monk Fruit is actually a real fruit. It is small and round and hails from southern China. Monk Fruit has been used in Eastern medicine for centuries as a remedy for colds and also a digestive aid. The sweetener is made by removing the skin and seeds, then crushing the fruit and collecting the juice. This product has been approved by the FDA for use as a substitute for sugar.

The compounds within the fruit that brings forth the sweetness are called mogrosides. Test studies related to mogroside metabolism have been done using animals, because it is believed they have the same or similar metabolism to mogroside as humans. Mogrosides are calorie free and are not absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. There have been no studies at this time to suggest that there is any negative benefit to using Monk Fruit extract as a replacement for sugar. What research has revealed is that Monk Fruit is safe for diabetics, pregnant, and breastfeeding women as well as children.

Please keep in mind that a healthy lifestyle is more than finding the right sugar substitute. Although this product is natural and calorie-free it would not be wise to load up on it so use wisdom. If you try it and do not like it just remember that not everything is for everyone. As mentioned earlier, we all have different taste buds and digestive systems. There is no one size fits all. I have shared this for informational purposes only to let the readers know there is another alternative to sugar available. If you desire to try Pure Monk fruit sugar substitute without the Stevia, it can be purchased in liquid and powder forms in Healthfood stores.