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Let’s be honest here. We all like sweet things. All of the things we associate as being comfort food has some amount of sweetness to them: ice cream, cookies, cake, all of them nice sweet things. We like sweet drinks, too. Nobody started off as liking their coffee black right away! Beginners started off with sugar and a touch of milk. And sweet tea didn’t get it’s name for being just tea.
All living things are designed to run off a fuel - and that fuel is a simple sugar called glucose. During the days of our ancient ancestors, sweet food was a rare treat. Now, we have a multitude of sweet sugary choices at our disposal. The problem, as it is, is that we consume too much.
Consuming too much of anything is terrible idea. Sugar, in particular, spikes our blood sugar levels and insulin levels, which can lead to insulin resistance, cellular inflammation, and fat accumulation.
Those of us trying to make healthier food choices are now looking for natural and healthy alternatives to sugar and that's why Kulture products only use Monk Fruit or Stevia to sweeten.
Let's take a look at them in a little more detail.
Stevia is a sweetener that is extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant native to Brazil and Paraguay. The extract is known to be 200x sweeter than sugar and is mainly used as a zero calorie sugar substitute. It’s natural sweetness comes from glycosides called stevioside and rebaudioside. These compounds also help prolong Stevia’s shelf life. Stevia is a great alternative to sugar especially for those who are suffering from diabetes. This is because of its stevioside component. It is a non-carbohydrate glycoside compound. When it breaks down, glucose-containing particles are absorbed by the bacteria in the colon, rather than being absorbed into the bloodstream to spike glucose levels in the body.
Stevia also has anti-hyperglycemic, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show that Stevia can lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It can also lower blood pressure in people with hypertension by 6 to 14%. Furthermore, studies show that Stevia can help relax blood vessels and act as a diuretic to encourage the elimination of sodium from the body. This puts less stress on the cardiovascular system. Stevia can also help lower bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol.
Monk fruit, also known as Luo Han Guo comes from a herbaceous perennial vine of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family known as Siraitia grosvenorii. It is native to southern China and northern Thailand. The fruit extract is known to be 300x sweeter than sugar and has been used as a zero calorie sweetener. It has antioxidants, aids in weight management, and has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Yacon syrup is extracted from the root of the Yacon plant, native to South America. This plant has long been hailed for its medicinal properties. It supports good digestion, increases metabolism, aids in weight management, and helps reduce LDL cholesterol.
