Sugary substitute erythritol: harm and benefit

The harm of sugar is not heard, apparently, only lazy. These are refined carbohydrates, which threaten with metabolic disorders, endocrine diseases and obesity. Of course, only if they are used excessively for food. Today, people have an alternative, put sugar in their tea or add substitutes. And the majority decides that the second option will be more healthy. In fact, much depends on what kind of sweetener you will use. Today we are interested in the sweetener erythritol. The damage and benefit of this additive will be discussed within the framework of our today's article. It should be noted that it was chosen not by chance, but the reasons for this will become clear in the process of revealing the topic.

Natural or artificial

Of course, if you want to get an exceptionally useful product, then you need to choose fruit or honey. However, fructose, which is contained in them, is a high-calorie product. That's why ladies who are trying to lose weight refuse it. Instead, they try to find an analogue that will give the desired sweetness and will be safe for the figure. Such are many synthetic sweeteners, but they are not entirely safe for our health. Because of the demand in the market, scientists also do not abandon the search for sweeteners, which would please the usual taste, but also were harmless and did not cause addiction. This is today considered natural erythritol, the harm and benefit of which we will try to evaluate.

What it is

It is believed that natural sweeteners are useful, and it is desirable to limit or exclude artificial sweeteners from their diet. However, this parameter is not enough to fully assess the effect on the body. Natural sweeteners were isolated from plants. These include: xylitol, fructose, stevioside, as well as erythritol, the harm and benefit of which we need to assess today. They differ from synthetic sweeteners by caloric content and good digestibility. In this case, they are called sweeteners.

We are not in vain among all the diversity chose erythritol. The harm and benefit of this substance scientists have studied for a long time and came to the unequivocal conclusion that anyone can eat it without any fear.

Manufacture of erythritol

It in its natural form contains many vegetables and fruits. Not for nothing is sometimes called a "melon sweetener". It is a part of polyhydric alcohols, but does not contain ethanol. Today it is produced from the most affordable products, corn and tapioca. It is not as sweet as sugar, but this deficiency is easily compensated by properties. Erythritol has a pure taste, which is also an additional plus. Below we will consider the parameters by which it qualitatively differs from all known sweeteners. So far, no other natural sweetener has been isolated in the world, which would have similar properties.

Main differences

Than against the background of others is allocated the sweetener erythritol? Benefits and harms are assessed in terms of effects on the body. The whole range of sugar alcohols (xylitol, sorbitol, erythritol) is quite popular. But against the background of others erythritol has several advantages:

• The very first thing that interests a person who decided to find an analogue of sugar is the caloric content of the substitute. Xylitol and sorbitol contain 2.8 kcal / g, and erythritol contains 0 kcal. This is what ensures the popularity of the sweetener in the market. Despite the fact that its sweetness is not high and it needs to be used in large quantities, this fact will not affect the figure in any way. In fact, if the erythritol molecules are split, we will see that they have some caloric content. But the whole secret is that the molecules are extremely small, and they do not go through the process of splitting. Consequently, the output is practically unchanged.
• Glycemic index is the most important indicator for people who watch their weight. In this regard, it is important to understand what erythritol is. Harm and benefit of this product directly depend on the chemical and physical properties. As we have already said, small molecules of matter are absorbed in the small intestine and chemical decomposition reactions do not have time to occur. Therefore, the level of glucose remains unchanged, which means that the glycemic index is zero.

Insulin Index

This is another important and advantageous difference, which is isolated by the sugar substitute erythritol. Benefits and harm are clearly visible if you compare the insulin index. For sugar, this figure is 43, for sorbitol - 11, and for erythritol - only 2. Thus, we can make another important statement. All sweeteners, except for what we are considering today, support dependence on sweetness. The mechanism is very simple. The sweet taste in the mouth sets the body to the fact that glucose now comes in, that is, vitally important energy. There is a release of insulin, which must cope with it. And once the glucose was not received, the sugar level is sharply reduced. There is a fast, and the craving for cakes and sweets increases dramatically. Therefore, diabetics are not recommended to eat along with sugar and products containing its substitutes. But this rule does not apply to erythritol.

Interaction with intestinal microflora

Most people who have already experimented with various sweeteners know well that they have a bad effect on the activity of the digestive tract. Diarrhea, bloating and gas formation - all this is a kind of payment for using "fake". Most sugar alcohols do not interact well with the intestinal microflora, which increases the risk of dysbiosis. Does erythritol affect the digestion? The description of the harm and benefit would be incomplete if one does not emphasize again that it is a bulk sweetener, which has to be used in large quantities. However, only 10% reaches the large intestine, where useful bacteria live. All the rest is absorbed in a thin, so any problems with digestion are excluded.

Effects on Teeth

It's no secret that all sweets contribute to the destruction of tooth enamel. Is the product of the risk group erythritol? Reviews of the harm and benefits of this sweetener, which are based on long-term studies, emphasize that its biochemical resistance to the effects of fungi and harmful microorganisms is very high. After consuming foods that contain erythritol, the PH level in the blood does not change for long hours. This is prevention and protection against tooth decay.

Possible harm

Studying the useful properties of erythritol, it becomes clear that the spectrum of its use in everyday life is very wide. He went through all the necessary research, which showed complete safety for the human body. The results did not reveal any harmful properties and negative consequences from its use. The toxicity of erythritol was not detected. Based on this, he was recognized as a safe food additive and designated code E968.

But everything is good in moderation. The beneficial properties of the sweetener are obvious. This is zero calorie, low glycemic and insulin index, protection against caries. The only thing that should be feared is the laxative effect. It manifests itself with simultaneous administration of a large dose, that is, over 30 g. Sometimes a person is very happy that he has found the opportunity to eat sweets without harm to the body and loses the sense of proportion. In fact, more than 5 teaspoons at a time to use is not recommended.

Latitude of application

It follows logically from the information on the dangers and benefits of erythritol. The photo of this substance clearly shows that it is very similar to ordinary crystalline sugar. It can be successfully used in the production of food to reduce caloric content. So, ordinary chocolate can be made 35% "lighter". Any cakes will reduce their calorie content by 40%, and sweets - by 70%. This is a real revolution. The bonus can be the property of increasing the shelf life of products. It is widely and productively used in the production of chewy candy and caramel.