Have you heard of erythritol and wonder what in the world it is? Here's all you need to know and why it's a fantastic sugar substitute!
The first time I ever saw or heard of erythritol I shunned it. I could barely say the name correctly let alone open my mind to using it. I was perfectly content with using stevia as my natural sugar free substitute and I still am and love my stevia.
I have been a stevia snob. But my good blogging friend Carolyn, from All Day I Dream About Food has been using it for a good long time and it peaked my curiosity, but again I've been happy with my recipes using stevia and I think all of you have as well.
Although I am perfectly content using stevia, I always receive many emails and comments saying some of you still find a bitter aftertaste even with the brands I recommend. I never taste an aftertaste and it must be because I'm so used to using it for so long now. My hubby will still notice in some no bake recipes or frosting so I decided over the last year to start experimenting with it.
Many of you know over the course of about 6 months I've been writing a cookbook and during this time I combined erythritol with stevia. I can only say that the results have been absolutely phenomenal in my baked goodies and treats. After attending BlogHer Food in Miami and speaking with the president of Swerve, I knew it was time to bring you some information here on the blog in hopes to enlighten you as well on this fantastic product.
WHAT IS ERYTHRITOL?
- It's pronounced, (a-rith-ri-tall).
- It is NOT an artificial sweetener like aspartame or Splenda. It is naturally occurring in plants and fruits and vegetables like grapes, melons and mushrooms.
- It is a sugar alcohol most often used in chewing gums, mouthwash, cough drops and mints.
- It has no calories and does not spike blood sugar. Zero on glycemic index. It is Non- GMO.
- Not to be confused with xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol which can cause gas, bloating and laxative effects.
- It measures cup for cup for sugar, but is only about 70% as sweet as table sugar. ( This is why combining it with stevia which is 300 times sweeter than sugar is a great choice).
IS IT SAFE & WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
I wouldn't be using it for my family or recommending it if I didn't believe in it as a safe product for my family and myself. Before it is even digested in the large intestine, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and basically eliminated unchanged.
So only about 10% actually enters into the small intestine. Because of this it does not typically cause any laxative effects like xylitol and maltitol would. We have been using it regularly with no problems in our family.
The season I like the brand Swerve is because I've tried other granular erythritol products from a few other brands and found them very gritty in the final product. Swerve has both a granular as well as a confectioner's sugar type product.
Both work well in baked goods, but of course when you want a recipe to have the look of confectioner's sugar that choice would be best. Mostly to bake I've been using the granular, but again either would work well.
Today Swerve has kindly offered to give away samples to 3 Sugar-Free Mom readers. You can choose between the granular version or the confectioner's version. Both are 1 pound in weight.
THIS GIVE AWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Just enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win some Swerve! 3 winners will be chosen. Contest ends on June 21, 2014 at midnight, EST. USA residents only please. Winners will be notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours.
References:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/497773-erythritol-vs-stevia-vs-xylitol/
https://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/erythritol.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythritol
Disclosure: I have not been compensated for this post. Swerve sweetener provided me samples of their product to try as well as product to provide for this give away. All opinions are 100% my own.
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Anita
I love erythritol... I haven't tried Swerve yet! But would love to!
Charlotte Moore
No, I have not tried the erythritol. I would love to win.
THANKS!!!
Sandy
I've never tried Swerve but love to try it! I use Stevia on a regular basis. It would be nice to see how Swerve tastes in comparison to Stevia.
Dora Gillilan
Powder sugar Swerve!! This I gotta try
Deb Brandt
I have been using the granulated for baking. Need to try the "powdered sugar" version.
Karen
Have not tried it yet, but am hoping to enjoy it in my coffee. Haven't found a sugar free natural sweetner that I like in it. Maybe this is the one!
HappyForks
According to new reasearch erythritol may be a preferred sugar substitute for patients with diabetes mellitus. So for these days it's safe sweetener.
D Stevens
Yes, I have a bag of Swerve. I use it in baking but didn't care for it in my tea.
Regan @ The Healthy Aperture Blog
I love Swerve and don't know why more people don't know about it!!
Auntiepatch
I haven't tried it. My husband is diabetic and we have to watch our sugar intake.
Marisol
Interesting information. I'm a stevia fan but have never tried Swerve or it's products. Thank you so much for the information and introduction.
Pam
I have used both Swerve and Erythritol. 🙂
Julie
Thanks for this article! There are so many sweeteners out there and it is hard to know which one(s) are okay to use!
Bonnie
I have tried Swerve and it didn't cause gastric upset at first, but after a few uses, it did. I was so disappointed as I had a coupon and had bought 2 bags of it. I use KAL brand stevia and have found it to be the best for extremely little after taste. In fact, hubby didn't even know I had made iced tea with it!!
Casey @ Casey the College Celiac
Never tried but would love the chance!
LeTrecia Mathis
I have tried it in combination with Stevia. I love it!
Jo
I've seen Swerve on many blogs but haven't tried - sounds like the perfect sweetener!
Jenny Maddox
I would love to win the Swerve - can't wait to do some low carb baking!
Jessica
I love using Swerve! The only problem for our large family is the price 🙁
I save it for special occasion treats and use my homemade blend of erythitol/stevia for everyday use 🙂
Brenda
I've never tried it, but would love to!
Sally
I wanted to try this because I had bought the sugar free gluten free baking and desserts cookbook by Kelly E. Keough and she only uses this in her recipes, but the local health food store did not carry it. So the book has sat on my counter for about two years. Hope to be able to try it now!
Jane
Swerve Confectioner's is a must have in any low carb kitchen.
Amanda
Haven't tried this product yet, but it seems like it would be fantastic for baking, where I often hit "speed bumps" when trying to use stevia. Thanks!
Debbie
Yes.....used with a little stevia it is my go-to sweetener.
Carol
I use Swerve all the time and LOVE it. It works well to put some in my Nutribullet and make my own confectioners version of it.