As people increasingly avoid sugar, alternative sweeteners have become more popular. One popular sweetener is monk fruit sweetener, also called Luo Han Guo. It is sometimes called "The Longevity Fruit" because of its amazing anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Monk fruit sweetener has been around for decades but has recently grown in popularity since it’s become more readily available. It’s natural, contains zero calories and is 100–250 times sweeter than sugar. It is also has antioxidant properties!
Sweetness Comparison: Monk Fruit is 300 times sweeter than sugar. 1/64th of a teaspoon, or a pinch of powdered extract, is equal to one teaspoon of sugar. ⅔ of a teaspoon is equal to one cup of sugar.
It's a Healthy Alternative: Zero Calories with Zero Glycemic Index.
Powdered extracts of Monk Fruit are an excellent option for making large batches of food and beverage recipes. While monk fruit extract is more expensive than stevia extract, it has a unique taste profile and a great way to switch things up!
Monk fruit, also known as lo han guo, is a small, sub-tropical melon grown in Southeast Asia that has been used for centuries as a sweetener.
It is often referred to as the longevity fruit or the Buddha fruit. Monk fruit is part of the gourd family, along with pumpkins, squash, cucumber, melons and zucchini, and the actual fruit grows on vines. This melon has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine as a digestive aid and as a cold remedy, as well as a natural sweetener.
Studies show that the mogrosides in Monk Fruit have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Mogroside extracts have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as they inhibit certain harmful molecules and help prevent damage to your DNA (5).
Animal and test-tube research suggests that monk fruit extract inhibits cancer cell growth. One study found that the mogrosides suppressed leukemia cell growth. (8, 9).
Since monk fruit sweetener has zero calories or carbs, it will not raise blood sugar levels. Therefore, it may be a good option for people with diabetes.
Studies in mice with diabetes suggest that monk fruit extract may even reduce blood sugar levels. Mice given the extract experienced lower oxidative stress and blood sugar levels, as well as increased HDL (good) cholesterol (10, 11, 12).
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Some of this content was originally posted on https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/monk-fruit-sweetener
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