Erythritol is a polyol (sugar alcohol) which is very popular for use in baking and as a general sweetener in low carb diets.

Low in calories: Erythritol has a very low caloric content; its value is 0.2 calories per gram for food labeling purposes in the United States and 0 (zero) calories per gram for food labeling purposes in Japan. This very low calorie value is due to erythritol’s unique absorption and elimination process which does not require the metabolism of erythritol. Thus, erythritol is uniquely qualified as a very low calorie bulk sweetener for formulating “light” and “reduced calorie” products which require a 25% or more calorie reduction from the standard formulation.

High digestive tolerance: Erythritol is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine due to its small molecular size and structure. Several clinical studies conducted in Europe and Japan have shown that more than 90% of ingested erythritol is absorbed and excreted unchanged in urine within a 24-hour period. This digestive pathway allows less than 5% of ingested erythritol to reach the large intestine and be fermented into volatile fatty acids or metabolized into carbon dioxide. As a result, foods containing substantial amounts of erythritol are very unlikely to cause gaseous and laxation side effects. A recent clinical study concluded daily consumption of 1 gram per kilogram body weight is well tolerated by adults as compared to sucrose containing foods.

Safe for people with diabetes: Single dose and 14-day clinical studies demonstrate erythritol does not affect blood serum glucose or insulin levels. Clinical studies conducted in people with diabetes conclude that erythritol may be safely used to replace sucrose in foods formulated specifically for people with diabetes. Of course, those with diabetes should consider the impact on their diet of other ingredients used in foods sweetened with erythritol.

Does not cause tooth decay: Erythritol like other polyols is resistant to metabolism by oral bacteria which break down sugars and starches to produce acids which may lead to tooth enamel loss and cavities formation. They are, therefore, non-cariogenic. The usefulness of polyols, including erythritol, as alternatives to sugars and as part of a comprehensive program including proper dental hygiene has been recognized by the American Dental Association. The FDA has approved the use of a "does not promote tooth decay" health claim in labeling for sugar-free foods that contain erythritol or other polyols.

Show Customized Find Customized Find

Find similar products fitting all of the checked categories. Erythritol    Sugar Alcohol (Polyol)      Low Carbohydrate    Sweeteners

Erythritol (Sensato) - Average rating (37 reviews)  - Write a review Show Reviews Reviews (29) (5) (0) (0) (3) See all 37 reviews   3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. June 07, 2010 Reviewer: Scott in New York A versatile, non-caloric sweetener that I can heartily recommend. I've been using it for baking for years and love the results. I typically use it as the "bulk" sweetener, measure for measure in recipes, and add some drops of liquid sucralose (Splenda) to make up for it being not quite as sweet as sugar. The powdered version works best. From flour based cakes to cheesecakes, I've found this to be a real substitute for all that sugar. I still use the liquid sucralose in my coffee, (EZ Sweets)but erythritol gets used for most everything else. (except for jams and jellies, it crystallizes.) This review is specific to Erythritol Powder Was this review helpful to you? Yes  No 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. April 25, 2011 Reviewer: A customer in Illinois POWDERED Erythritol has changed my life as a baker! I thought I had completely ran out of options in advancing my sugar free, natural baking when I bought Erythritol crystals and they had a terrible cooling effect. The powdered form inhibits the crystalization and eliminated the cooling effect. I bake everything with this stuff. My Italian family, with all of our traditional high-fat desserts, goes crazy over my sweets with this stuff. They never suspect a thing until I tell them it's sugar free. The gastronomic side effects associated with sugar alcohols are also not as common for Erythritol. Was this review helpful to you? Yes  No 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. July 27, 2010 Reviewer: Alice in North Carolina This finely powdered product is comparable to confectioners sugar and especially useful in recipes where the granular version may not dissolve completely and a smooth consistency is important. This review is specific to Erythritol Powder Was this review helpful to you? Yes  No 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. December 07, 2010 Reviewer: Kristine in Wisconsin I really like the powdered erythritol. It blends easily and it sure beats that bitter aftertaste that Splenda sweeteners can give, especially with chocolate. I have switched to using the erythritol almost exclusively for my desserts and sweets making. Thank you, Netrition, for offering the powdered form. I can only find granular in my local stores and the powdered is much better. This review is specific to Erythritol Powder Was this review helpful to you? Yes  No January 12, 2012 Reviewer: lea in Georgia Erythritol is a great sugar substitute. I used erythritol for all our holiday baking and did not gain a pound ...no carb and extremely low glycemic effect. I greatly suggest the powdered instead of granular. Was this review helpful to you? Yes  No See more reviews