Is Monk Fruit Sweetener Healthy?

What is monk fruit sweetener?

Monk fruit sweetener is made from monk fruit or luohan guo, which are some of the names for the fruit of the perennial vined plant, siraitia grosvenorii, that’s native to southern China and northern Thailand. Its fruit-derived sweetener is thought to be up to 250 times sweeter than sugar and is virtually calorie-free.    

Luohan guo has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries as well as in mass-production of low-calorie drinks over the last decade. The vine’s fruits are round and green and are nearly always dried as they’re tricky to store fresh. 

Why is monk fruit sweetener so sweet?

Monk fruit contains natural sugars which are mainly fructose and glucose that aren’t entirely responsible for its sweetness. Instead, its vivid sugariness comes from antioxidants called mogrosides that are unique to the monk fruit. 

These mogrosides are separated from fruit juice in the manufacturing process so the natural sweetener doesn’t contain any fructose and glucose.  

Is monk fruit sweetener healthy?

Monk fruit sweetener is relatively new to the market, having only been FDA approved as safe in 2010. This means that limited research has been carried out regarding its help benefits.

However, like other natural and low-calorie sweeteners, it’s believed to aid moderate weight loss and is linked to a reduction in other ‘empty calories’ like foods with added fats and sugars. 

The natural sweetener may also have antioxidant, anti-diabetes and anti-inflammatory properties.