So you’re looking for a better-tasting alternative to sugar, that also ticks all the boxes when it comes to being healthy. While the options you find may be plentiful, almost every single one comes with a host of “ifs,” “buts” and questionable side-effects. Monk fruit may be just the answer that you’ve been looking for.

Before we get into the nitty-gritties of the nutritional breakdown and the benefits of this miraculous fruit, let’s talk a bit about why it’s becoming such a hot topic in the health world.

It’s been used since the 13th century as a traditional herb. Called “Monk Fruit” because of the extraordinary number of buddhist monasteries where it grows, the monks named it “Lohan” or “Arhat”, referring to one who has achieved the highest level of consciousness, or nirvana. They believed that the fruit brings long life, which is why it’s also known as the “longevity fruit” or the “immortal’s fruit.”

Nutritionally, Monk Fruit extract is a natural sweetener packed with antioxidant compounds called “mogrosides” that give it its sweetness. While the fruit itself contains fructose and sucrose, the extract doesn’t, and it’s not these natural sugars that bring it its sweetness. Mogrosides have gained popularity as a sugar substitute, giving Monk Fruit extract that same sweet taste we crave, but with none of the unhealthiness we associate with sugar.

So, without any further ado, let’s jump into the nutritional facts and benefits of this incredible natural sweetener.

Sweeter, but not really
Monk fruit extract is 150 to 200 times sweeter than sugar, so you don’t need as much to give that same amount of sweetness we love. When in Lakanto, the ratio of Monk Fruit Extract to erythritol makes it a perfect 1:1 sugar replacement, with just the same sweetness as sugar.

Zero Calories
No calories invited or allowed at this party, since it’s not sweetened by natural sugars, but by the aforementioned antioxidant compounds called mogrosides which don’t have any calories whatsoever.

Zero Sodium
Too much sodium in the diet could lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. It could even cause calcium loss, as it pulls calcium out of bones. But with Monk Fruit, you don’t need to worry about any of that.

Zero Fat
Sweets without fat? Yes, this is the brave new world that we can live in thanks to this incredible natural sweetener.

Low Glycemic Index
Since mogrosides don’t affect blood sugar levels, Lakanto, like all monk fruit extracts, is safe for diabetics and people who are watching their sugar.

So there you have it. If you’re looking for the best sugar replacement ever, look no further than Monk Fruit. You’ll forget about all the other sugar substitutes out there.