Keto Sweeteners- What to Use

Here’s our take on Keto sweeteners- what to use, more specifically, what we personally use and the few we won’t even allow in our house!

Keto Sweeteners- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

When it comes to Keto sweeteners, we are pretty darn particular. Not all “keto-friendly” sweetener options are body friendly. Some sweeteners cause bloating, gas (that’ll evacuate the NEIGHBORS from their homes when it expels!), or weird aftertastes that just plain leave a bad taste in your mouth, quite literally.

The Good:

Bocha Sweet

Bocha sweet sweetener is by-far my favorite choice in keto sweeteners. Bocha Sweet is derived using low-temperature extraction from a superfood kabocha squash and substitutes sugar cup for cup. It has a zero carb, zero calorie count, cooks, dissolves and tastes exactly like cane sugar with a zero glycemic content. That is to say NO insulin spike at all, none.

For the majority of recipes that I “ketofy”, I prefer to use this sweetener. It doesn’t cause any type of gastric distress at all, no bloating, no gas or flatulence, zero negative repercussions. The downside to this sweetener is that it’s literally the MOST expensive option available.

The most cost-effective option is to purchase the 1 pound pouch, pack of 6 on their website for $77.99 (shipping is free over $50) which is 81¢ per ounce.

Bochasweet™ is the precise extraction of pentose, a xylitol structure, from kabocha through a natural, low-temperature process. As such, it is NOT SAFE for pets to consume!

Allulose

Allulose is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) that is naturally found in certain fruits such as figs, jackfruit, and raisins. It does not have a glycemic index, so it does not affect blood sugar, nor does it have a net carb count.

When Allulose is consumed, 100% of it is excreted from the body without being metabolized. The body cannot use any part of it for fuel so it’s simply excreted. Studies have indicated that Allulose can reduce insulin and blood sugar levels after meals.

Unfortunately, it’s about 70% percent as sweet as table sugar, so substituting it in recipes may require a little extra figuring (usually 1.4-1.5 to 1).  Since it’s relatively new on the market, long-term effects on health are not known.

Allulose is more affordable at around 58¢ per ounce, but you’ll need half again as much in each recipe as Bochasweet, so you’re not really saving. (1 c. of Bochasweet is 8oz = $6.48; the equivalent of Allulose is 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) =$6.96)

Erythritol

This sugar alcohol has zero calories and does not affect blood glucose. Erythritol is easier on the digestive system, but for some people, it still causes some gas or minor gastric upset. It’s best when used in baking or cooking, it does not dissolve well without heat, so it’s not good for mixing into beverages such as sweet tea or lemonade.

As a sugar alcohol, Erythritol has a slight cooling aftertaste, often thought of as “minty”.  Budget-wise, this is one of the least expensive sweeteners at 25¢ per ounce. Use it at a 1:1 ratio in baking or cooking, it measures just like sugar.

Monk Fruit

Monk fruit is 100-250 times sweeter than table sugar, as such, a little goes a very long way! Luo Han Guo (aka Monk Fruit) is native to China and is frequently blended with other sweeteners due to its odd, unusual aftertaste.

This sweetener has zero carbs, calories, and sugars and may help fight inflammation. It tends to be a little more expensive than other keto sweeteners. It comes in both liquid and granulated form.

Swerve

This keto-friendly option substitutes 1:1 for sugar (cup for cup), has a low GI rating, and is a mix of erythritol and oligosaccharides. It’s a great, affordable sweetener option for baking.

Stevia

Nature’s “sugar leaf”, stevia is sold in both liquid and powdered form. It’s an herb that contains zero calories (and nutrients). Stevia is an acquired taste I’m afraid.

The plant contains steviol glycosides, sweet-tasting compounds that are estimated to be 200-300 times as sweet as sugar. The downside is that is has a bitter aftertaste, often lingering for an hour or more.

The Bad

Sucralose

Also known as Splenda, it’s an artificial sweetener that passes through the digestive system, undigested. That is to say, it doesn’t provide any calories or carbohydrates at all. Be aware that this sweetener is often blended with others such as dextrose or maltodextrin which can and likely will kick you out of ketosis.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that naturally occurs in the fibers of fruits and vegetables. It’s commonly found in sugar-free products that are sold and can be purchased to make homemade keto-friendly products.

Unfortunately, xylitol is extremely toxic to pets and if they ingest even the tiniest amount (say, a stick of gum for example) it can and likely WILL kill your pet, or at the very least cause severe liver damage.

Yacon Syrup

This sweet-tasting syrup is derived from the yacon plant. It contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which is a type of soluble fiber (your body does not digest). While it contains approximately 11 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon, it does not affect blood sugar.

While it can be used in beverages or salad dressings, it’s not recommended for use in recipes that are cooked or baked due as the fructooligosaccharides (FOS) break down in high temperatures.

Sweeteners that are NOT Keto-Friendly

The Ugly

There are several items that are often marketed as low-carb or keto-friendly, but are not.

• Agave Nectar– mostly fructose, exacerbates insulin resistance, spikes blood sugar
• Aspartame– literally breaks down into formaldehyde in the body, has been linked to a number of health problems including depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, and more. Aspartame not only prevents weight loss, but it also harms your metabolism.
• Coconut Sugar– high in fructose, spikes blood sugar
• Dates– very high in carbs
• Maltodextrin– has a very high glycemic index causing blood sugar spikes, contains the same amount of calories and carbs as sugar, may cause rashes, asthma, and cramping in addition to weight gain, gas, flatulence and bloating
• Maltitol– causes a severe spike in blood sugars and will likely kick you out of ketosis. It also acts a laxative and causes significant GI distress.
• Saccharin– potentially cancer causing, alters glucose tolerance in just 5 weeks, numerous side-effects, extremely bitter aftertaste, generally recognized as Unsafe to consume

Glycemic Index (GI) of Sweeteners

The glycemic index is a measure of how much a food raises your blood sugar. Some sweeteners, such as Bochasweet, are zero GI which means they don’t affect the blood sugar at all.

Glucose measures 100 on the GI scale. If you’re following a keto lifestyle, you’ll want to choose sweeteners that are the lowest in the glycemic index. As far as taste preferences go, it’s often beneficial to mix two or more to achieve the right texture and flavor in your finished recipe.