Dear Clean Plates,

I’ve seen something called “erythritol” on the labels of sodas and new foods in the health food section. Is it actually healthy? What is it?

–Sugar Mama

Dear Sugar Mama,

Not quite as sweet as table sugar, erythritol is a sugar alcohol that has a low impact on blood sugar levels (read: low glycemic index). You’re likely seeing it in the health food section because of that and the fact that it’s considered a natural sweetener, like xylitol; it also has close to nil calories and carbs. In fact, it is found naturally in some fruits, mushrooms and fermented foods like wine and soy sauce.

But because it's often blended with other more-intense sugars to mimic the mouthfeel of sucrose, erythritol has negative aspects. Sugar alcohols like this one generally “can act as a laxative in high quantities and also cause gastrointestinal distress like gas and bloating” according to Clean Plates founder Jared Koch. And in large doses, it can cause nausea.

Yet it's not all bad. Check out some of the good qualities of erythritol here.

“Erythritol can be a good option for many, but because it is a sugar alcohol, it can also have some side effects,” Koch says, referring back to the gastrointestinal distress. “There have also been some reported cases of allergic reactions. That being said, it might be worth trying to see if it works for your body.”

You may have sweet success.

Photo by nicoleleec

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