The Best Alternative Sweetener on the Market
Sugar-alternative sweeteners have become increasingly attractive to the general public as more information has come to light about the negative effects of sugar. Too much sugar is not an ideal for human health, negatively impacting teeth and weight. Controversial suggestions also exist that link sugar intake with specific degenerative diseases such as heart disease.
According to the World Health Organization, ideally less than 5 percent of an adult’s calories should come from added or natural sugars, coming out to approximately 25 grams of sugar each day for an individual with a typical 2,000-calorie diet. However, the University of California San Francisco in their online publication, Sugar Science, reports the average American consumes approximately 71.14 grams of sugar every day, adding up to around 57 pounds of added sugar each year, per individual.
With these alarming statistics, it’s no surprise that the popularity of sugar alternatives is on the rise as Americans attempt to curb their sugar intake. Sugar-free sweeteners are a worthy contender for sugar as they often sweeten food to imitate the taste of sugar while containing less food energy. Low-calorie sugar-free sweeteners are an attractive alternative for people looking to limit sugar and/or need foods optimal for diabetes.
However, not all alternative sweeteners are equal. With a plethora of clean label, natural sugar alternatives and artificial sweeteners on the market today, it’s difficult for both consumers and manufacturers/producers to choose the right alternative sweetening agents for their health and their products. In an article published in the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, by Dr. Kirtida Tandel, “animal studies have convincingly proven that artificial sweeteners cause weight gain, brain tumors, bladder cancer and many other health hazards” and many scientists are ultimately divided over the issue of artificial sweetener safety.
Many manufacturers and individuals opt for natural sweeteners instead, due to this information and similar findings about the potential dangers of artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners are a perfect alternative option for individuals looking to limit their sugar intake in the safest way possible. Natural sweeteners are also optimal for manufacturers in the personal care, food and beverage, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries looking for premium all-natural, sugar-free ingredients in product formulations.
At Market Acceleration Group, we offer an all-natural, clean label alternative sweetening agent, erythritol, with organic and non-organic options. This chemical compound, C4H10O4, is a novel calorie-free sweetener. Chemically, it is a four-carbon sugar alcohol (polyol) and comes in a white crystalline powder, developed through fermentation. This ingredient belongs to a class of compounds called sugar alcohols, and is a molecule that acts as a hybrid of a carbohydrate and an alcohol. The molecule structure of erythritol is what stimulates the sweet taste receptors on our tongues.
Our specialty ingredient, erythritol, occurs naturally in a wide variety of foods, including mushrooms, fruits and other fermented foods. It contains approximately 70 percent of the sweetness of sugar and unlike many artificial sweeteners, is non-cariogenic. Learn more about our premium chemical offering and request a sample by contacting our team today at [email protected]. Our expert technical sales specialists are ready to talk with you about all of your natural, alternative sweetener needs.