By Keith Block, MD
Today we continue our review of alternatives to sugar and artificial sweeteners and will take a look at lo han guo.
Lo Han Guo
Lo han guo comes from a vine that grows in China. Like stevia, this plant contains intensely sweet phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are called mogrosides. They are 200-400 times sweeter than sugar, and are recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Lo han guo extracts (mogrosides) are sold in single-serving packages like artificial sweeteners. Some companies combine lo han guo with other products such as inulin, a barely sweet, starch-like substance. Lo han guo is currently not widely available and can be found primarily in health food stores or on the Internet.
Is lo han guo safe?
There have been numerous studies indicating the safety of mogrosides. Up to 7 grams per kilogram of body weight have been safely used in animal studies. It has been suggested that mogrosides could have some health benefits; they may function similar to an antioxidant, and may also have some blood sugar lowering properties. However, since they are eaten in very small quantities, I do not recommend they be used solely for this purpose.
As with stevia, there is the possibility that an increase in insulin levels could result from this non-caloric sweetener tricking the brain into thinking that sugars will soon be entering the bloodstream. No scientific studies have been published to explore this concern. However, it would be wise to use this non-caloric sweetener in a sensible and restrained way. As we suggested with the use of stevia, one or two packets at each meal would be a maximum. You should also alternate sweeteners so that you are not using the same sweetener all the time. Diabetics or those prone to low blood sugar should test their reaction to lo han guo before they begin using it.
How can I use lo han guo?
Lo han guo is usually sold in packets and can easily be used to sweeten drinks. You can also use it to replace artificial sweeteners in recipes that call for the use of them. In addition, lo han guo extracts are stable when heated and can thus be used in cooking.
In out next blog, we’ll take a look at brown rice syrup.
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