How to Find the Best Monk Fruit Protein Powder

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best monk fruit protein powder.

Discover the best protein powder sweetened with monk fruit.

Last Updated
Jan 14, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, Founder

Jack is the Founder of Drink Wholesome.

Medically reviewed by Brittany, MS, RD and Jenn, PA-C

Kayla is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Jennifer is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Monk Fruit Protein Powder

What Is Monk Fruit?

Monk fruit, also known as luo han guo, is a small, melon-like fruit native to Southeast Asia.

Monk fruit sweetener is created by removing the seeds and skin of the fruit, crushing the flesh, and collecting the juice, which is dried into a fine powder.

It is over 100 times sweeter than sugar thanks to non-caloric (sugar-free) compounds called mogrosides.

A pinch of monk fruit sweetener can therefore be used to achieve the same amount of sweetness as several tablespoons of sugar.

This allows protein powder companies to reduce both the caloric and sugar content of their products.

In case you were wondering, monk fruit sweetener is not as popular as artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, or stevia because it is far more expensive.

That said, as far as low/zero calorie sweeteners go, monk fruit is by far the best for you and the best tasting.

Why Is Monk Fruit Better Tasting?

One of the main reasons why consumers are looking for alternatives to sweeteners like sucralose and stevia is the aftertaste.

Stevia and artificial sweeteners like sucralose activate bitter taste receptors, which gives them an unpleasant, bitter aftertaste (J Neurosci, 2004).

Monk fruit sweetener, on the other hand, is sweet like sugar.

When used in moderation, most people cannot tell the difference between monk fruit sweetener and sugar.

Monk fruit itself tastes like a blend of melon and citrus with a hint of caramel.

Why Should I Choose Monk Fruit?

Monk fruit is the healthiest sugar substitute for several reasons.

For starters, monk fruit has been safely used in Asian cuisine for centuries.

Moreover, small randomized trials have shown that monk fruit sweetener does not negatively impact blood glucose (sugar) or insulin levels (Eur J Clin Nutr, 2017).

Artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium, on the other hand, are associated with higher risk of glucose intolerance, which is a precursor for pre-diabetes and diabetes (Nature, 2014).

They can also increase cravings toward sugary and sweet foods, leading to binging and feelings of withdrawal (Yale J Biol Med, 2010).

Monk fruit is also gut-friendly whereas other sugar substitutes, especially sugar alcohols like xylitol, can cause painful digestive issues (Int J Dent, 2016).

Other sugar substitutes can also alter the composition and function of your gut microbiome (Adv Nutr, 2019), leading to gut dysbiosis (imbalances in gut bacteria), which can contribute to widespread inflammation and other long-term health problems (Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2024).

Finally, other sugar substitutes have been linked to the onset and development of chronic diseases.

Artificial sweetener consumption, for instance, has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and certain sugar alcohols have been linked to heart attack and stroke (BMJ, 2022; Nat Med, 2023).

It is worth mentioning that stevia, although considered by many to be a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners, may not be as natural as you think.

This popular sugar substitute is often extracted from the stevia rebaudiana plant using chemicals like ethanol and methyl alcohol, which some argue makes it barely more natural than the artificial sweeteners that it seeks to replace.

What Is the Best Protein Powder Sweetened with Monk Fruit?

If you are looking for a monk fruit-sweetened protein powder, then it is safe to say that you want avoid other types of non-nutritive sweeteners.

⚠️ So here is a list of the most common sugar substitutes added to protein supplements:

• acefulsame potassium
• allulose
• aspartame
• eryithritol
• sucralose
• stevia
• xylitol

It should be noted that monk fruit is often blended with sugar alcohols like erythritol.

And manufacturers do not always have list these sugar alcohols on the ingredient list!

If this is a concern for you, contact the manufacturer to confirm whether they use pure monk fruit.

In case you were wondering, our Protein Powders are sweetened with 100% monk fruit.

Editorial Guidelines

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.

Sources

1. The Journal of Neuroscience (J Neurosci). Bitter Taste Receptors for Saccharin and Acesulfame K. 2004.
2. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Eur J Clin Nutr). Effects of non-nutritive (artificial vs natural) sweeteners on 24-h glucose profiles. 2017.
3. Nature (Nature). Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. 2014.
4. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine (Yale J Biol Med). Gain weight by “going diet?” Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings: Neuroscience 2010. 2010.
5. International Journal of Dentistry (Int J Dent). Gastrointestinal Disturbances Associated with the Consumption of Sugar Alcohols with Special Consideration of Xylitol: Scientific Review and Instructions for Dentists and Other Health-Care Professionals. 2016.
6. Advances in Nutrition (Adv Nutr). Effects of Sweeteners on the Gut Microbiota: A Review of Experimental Studies and Clinical Trials. 2019.
7. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology (Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol). Ultra-processed foods and food additives in gut health and disease. 2024
8. The British Medical Journal (BMJ). Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort. 2022.
9. Nature Medicine (Nat Med). The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk. 2023.