Benefits
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. 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. Erythritol thus helps in reducing weight.- High digestive tolerance: Erythritol is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine due to its small molecular size and structure. Foods containing substantial amounts of erythritol are very likely 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: 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.
- 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.
- Increases Shelf-life of foods: Erythritol's water activity in solution is able to efficiently reduce and control the water activity of foodstuffs, thus extending their shelf life.
- A Good Filler: Erythritol blends well with other polyols and flavors and can mask off-flavors such as bitterness sometimes associated with other low-calorie sweeteners.
