There are many different types of natural sweeteners available on the market such as stevia, xylitol, and sorbitol and erythritol. Erythritol is a calorie-free sweetener and sugar alternative.
Erythritol is made from taking plant sugars from natural sources such as grapes, melons, pears, and other starches and plants. The plant sugars are then mixed with water and this mixture goes through the fermentation process with natural cultures. Once it is fermented, the erythritol is formed. The erythritol is then filtered and then it crystallizes and dried into granules. This natural sweetener is 70%-80% as sweet as table sugar without the calories.
While erythritol is fermented and it is called a “sugar alcohol”, it is not the same type of alcohol in beer, wine or spirits that gets you drunk (that is called ethyl-alcohol).
Its molecular structure allows the body to absorb it but not metabolize or break it down. This is why it has zero calories compared to table sugar, which has four calories per gram.
Blood Sugar Regulation
A sugar alternative like erythritol can be a great choice for those that are overweight or have diabetes or other blood sugar problems. Multiple studies have found that the consumption of erythritol does not spike blood sugar or insulin levels in both non-diabetics and diabetics.
Most sugar alcohols like xylitol and sorbitol ferment in the gut and can cause uncomfortable gas, bloating and diarrhea. Erythritol does not seem to ferment in the gut or produce gas compared to its counterparts which is due to its small molecular size.
Stevia
Stevia is 250-300 times sweeter than table sugar, but many people don’t like the aftertaste
Stevia is a sweetener that is derived from the leaves of the Stevia plant. It can come in both granulated form as well as a liquid form. It has very few calories and it has very little effect on blood sugar levels, which makes it an excellent option for diabetics and people who are on low-carb diets.
Xylitol
Also Xylitol is a sugar alcohol. It is produced very similarly to erythritol, but it has a very different chemical composition to erythritol. Unlike stevia, it does not have the bitter aftertaste. However, some people have discovered that xylitol could cause dietary issues and it is not recommended for anyone who is struggling with irritable bowel syndrome.
Sorbitol
Sorbitol is another sugar alcohol with a different chemical composition than erythritol and xylitol. It has the same benefits as erythritol, but it has a much worse laxative effect than xylitol. Sorbitol has been found to be what causes the laxative effects in dried fruits such as prunes.
We believe the best choice of all natural sweeteners on the market.is Erythritol as it has the benefits of these sweeteners without any of the drawbacks.
| Sweetener | Sweetness | Glycemic Index (GI) | Kcal/gram |
| Tablesugar | 100% | 60 | 4 |
| Xylitol | 100% | 13 | 2.5 |
| Maltitol | 75% | 36 | 2.7 |
| Erythritol | 70% | 0 | 0.2 |
| Sorbitol | 60% | 9 | 2.5 |
| Mannitol | 60% | 0 | 1.5 |
