What is the best protein powder without erythritol?
drink wholesome is the best protein powder without erythritol. It is sweetened with pure monk fruit.
Written by Jack Schrupp and reviewed by Ella McGonagle, M.S. Nutrition
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“I’ve tried a lot of brands but this is the best protein powder I’ve had. Limited and simple ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, and great taste make this one my go to!” – Larry
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What is erythritol?
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol used in many processed foods as a sweetener and sugar substitute. It is virtually sugar-free, but still stimulates sweet taste receptors on your tongue.
Erythritol occurs naturally in some fruits and fermented foods, but can also be commercially produced through the fermentation of glucose. When used as a sweetener, erythritol levels are typically more than 1,000-times greater than levels found in nature.
Erythritol has only 0.2 calories per gram, which is significantly lower than the 4 calories per gram found in sugar. It is also unique among sugar alcohols because it is absorbed into the bloodstream, but not metabolized by the body. As a result, it has a minimal impact on blood sugar levels and insulin response.
Erythritol is often used in combination with other sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit extract to provide a sugar-like experience without the added calories. Interestingly, because it is a sugar alcohol, it is not required to be listed individually on the Nutrition Facts label. This means that your protein powder could contain erythritol and you would never know it.
Is erythritol bad for you?
Most sugar alcohols, especially isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, and xylitol, are known to cause digestive issues when consumed in large amounts. They are also known to disrupt the composition and function of the gut microbiome (the collection of microorganisms that help you digest food). Erythritol is the exception, however, as it does cause gastrointestinal side effects or gut damage. It is generally well-tolerated, although consuming excessive amounts may lead to mild digestive discomfort in some individuals. Having said that, erythritol is far from the perfect sugar substitute.
An NIH-funded study recently examined the relationship between erythritol and heart attacks and stroke. Results appeared in Nature Medicine on February 27, 2023. The researchers found that elevated levels of erythritol were associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events. In fact, people with the highest erythritol levels (top 25%) were about twice as likely to have cardiovascular events as those with the lowest (bottom 25%). In trying to better understand how erythritol might increase these health risks, the researchers determined that consuming erythritol may increase blood clot formation, which, in turn, could increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. For this reason, many people are looking to cut erythritol out of their diet.
What is the best protein powder without erythritol?
If you are struggling to find a protein powder without erythritol, try drink wholesome. Instead of sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, we use pure monk fruit. Monk fruit, also known as luo han guo, is a melon-like fruit native to Southeast Asia. Its intense sweetness, which is about 200 times that of sugar, is provided by non-caloric compounds called mogrosides.
We use monk fruit for a number of reasons. First of all, monk fruit sweetener is the most natural sugar substitute on the market. It is made by removing the seeds and skin, crushing the fruit, and collecting the juice, which is then dried into a powder. What ends up in your protein powder is basically concentrated fruit juice. We also like monk fruit because it is sweet like sugar. Other natural sweeteners like stevia, on the other hand, have a bitter aftertaste because they activate bitter taste receptors.
Given that monk fruit sweetener has only been commercially available for about a decade, its impact on, and association with, chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes has not been well documented. That said, it has been safely used in Asian cuisine for centuries and has no known side effects, even when consumed in large quantities. Moreover, small randomized trials have shown that monk fruit sweetener does not negatively impact blood sugar or insulin levels. For this reason, as well as those outlined above, we believe that monk fruit is the best available sugar substitute. In case you were wondering, most companies do not use monk fruit because it is expensive.
What about stevia?
If a company makes protein powder without sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, chances are high that it uses stevia. Stevia, although celebrated as a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners, may not be as natural as you think. It is extracted from the stevia rebaudiana plant using chemicals like ethanol and methyl alcohol. This, some argue, makes it no more natural than the artificial sweeteners that it seeks to replace. In fact, a recent class action lawsuit filed in California reached a $6.1 million settlement because it was ruled that the company in question falsely labeled and advertised its stevia sweeteners as “natural.
Why drink wholesome?
drink wholesome is the best protein powder without erythritol. It is made with simple, easy to digest ingredients and sweetened with pure monk fruit. During the production of monk fruit sweeteners, the monk fruit is often blended with erythritol in order to look more like table sugar. This is especially the case for monk fruit sweeteners intended to replace white sugar.
The monk fruit sweetener we use, on the other hand, is made with 100% monk fruit. There are no added ingredients, so you can rest assured that your protein powder is erythritol-free.
drink wholesome is the best erythritol-free protein powder.
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Hi! My name is Jack. I created drink wholesome because I was sick of protein powders that upset my stomach. It is handmade in Plymouth, MA.
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. drink wholesome is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.