Heard of Sweetener Lakanto?

The Ask Nancy section will address your interesting questions for all to benefit. The question was about the sweetener lakanto. So here’s the skinny on it: lakanto consists of Erythritol and Luo Han Guo Fruit Extract. Erythritol is the main ingredient of another sweetener named Truvia®, and found to be toxic to Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies in a dose-dependent manner in Drexel team’s study, published in PLOS ONE.  Fascinating to say the least but that’s Trivia®, what about lakanto? (Sorry for the diversion;)

Lakanto is considered a Japanese sweetener or “fake sugar” with zero glycemic index, no calories and no additives. The ingredient Erythtitol which is a naturally occurring sugar, found in corn, grapes, pears, mushrooms, wheat and other foods is normally made from glucose that is created from corn or wheat starch. To do this, the starch is first treated with enzymes (special proteins) that break the starch down into glucose. This glucose is then mixed with yeast, and the yeast ferments the glucose to form erythritol. The fermented mixture is then heated (in order to kill off the yeast) an dried (by boiling off all the water) so that erythritol crystals are formed. These crystals are then washed (to remove impurities), redissolved, purified again (using a special kind of chemical filter) and finally are isolated in solid form, at which point the erythritol is safe for human consumption.

The second ingredient, Luo Han Guo Fruit Extract is from monk fruit and said to act as an anti-carcinogenic as well as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant.

Few precautions but not limited to just this list:

• Those taking MAOI’s, SSRI’s, antidepressants, NSAIDS, corticosteroids or certain other medications should consult a physician before taking Lakanto.
• Those who have diabetes, hypoglycemia, high blood pressure, cardiovascular ailments or certain other medical conditions should consult a physician before taking Lakanto.
• Women who are pregnant or nursing should consult a physician before taking Lakanto.

Let me know if you’ve ever tried Lakanto and how you like it.

Many love it! Others love organic Stevia. It’s totally up to you.

Tags: Ask Nancy, Lakanto, sugar, sugar substitute, sweetener, weight loss