Many people are trying to reduce the amount of sugar absorbed into the body.
It is also not surprising that many types of sugar substitutes have been put on the market.
Truvia is one of them.
Truvia is advertised as a sweetener derived from natural stevia sweet grass, which is beneficial for controlling blood sugar.
But is Truvia really good for health and nature as introduced?
Here we will find out.
What is Truvia?
is sweetener developed by and Coca-Cola.
Cargill is a major producer of materials and additives for some of the world's largest food companies.
Truvia was launched in 2008. It has now become (only after Splenda).
Truvia is produced from a mixture of three components, that is:
- Erythritol: Sugar alcohol.
- Rebaudioside A: a sweet compound separated from Stevia, on the product packaging it is called Rebiana .
- Natural flavoring: It is unclear what substance.
Truvia is often confused with Stevia , natural sweetener made from Stevia leaves.
This is not surprising advertised as a sweetener derived from Stevia and also has a similar name.
However, and Stevia is not the same.
Conclude: Truvia is the second sweetener for popular sugar in the United States. It contains erythritol, rebaudioside A and "natural flavorings."
In Truvia sweetener, there is no Stevia, but only a small amount of Rebaudioside A
It is thought to be a sweetener derived from stevia. However, this advertisement is seriously misleading.
almost does not contain any ingredients of Stevia sweet grass, and certainly does not bring any health benefits.
Stevia leaves contain is stevioside and
In these two substances, stevioside (not rebaudioside A) provides health benefits such as lowering blood sugar and lowering blood pressure .
However, in no stevioside, but only a very small amount of rebaudioside A pure. This substance does not bring any health benefits.
For this reason, advertising is a "stevia" sweetener that is very suspicious.
Conclude: Rebaudioside A is a compound of Stevia used in . This sweetener does not contain stevioside, Stevia compounds provide health benefits.
The main ingredient is Erythritol
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol found in some natural foods such as fruit. It can also be extracted and purified for use as a sweetener in food.
According to the the company produces erythritol by processing corn into a food starch, then fermenting it with yeast to create broth.
This water is then filtered thoroughly to create erythritol crystals.
Erythritol is a sugar derivative of alcohol because its molecule is a mixture of carbohydrate and alcohol (this alcohol is not like ethanol, the alcohol that makes you drunk).
The chemical structure of sugar derivatives of alcohol makes it possible to stimulate sweet receptors on your tongue.
Some types of sugar derivatives of Western popular diets include xylitol , sorbitol, and maltitol.
But erythritol seems completely different from others. It has a unique chemical structure that our bodies cannot break down and digest.
Basically, erythritol is not altered in the body and it will go out with urine. Therefore, this substance almost does not provide calories and does not cause harmful effects during metabolism Excess sugar .
Many long-term studies of metabolism and toxicity have not detected any negative effects of erythritol consumption, at least for animals .
Conclude: Erythritol is the main ingredient in . It does not cause adverse effects in metabolic processes such as sugar, and it is considered safe.
"Natural flavoring" in Truvia
Final component in is "natural flavoring." This ingredient has a bit of mystery.
Exactly what flavorings were added, and how they were created were not clearly stated on the packaging nor on the website.
But the company has no legal obligation to disclose these, and a mixture of "aromatherapy" with Cargill's rebaudioside A was patented in 2009.
However, the idea that natural aromas are also not natural is not wrong. This issue is regulated loosely by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A company that is free to put on any packaging is considered natural, as long as it has the same chemical properties as natural aromas.
Conclude: People still keep a secret about the composition of "natural flavorings." However, this is most likely a series of chemicals that are not really "natural."
virtually no calories and does not affect blood sugar
Compare to normal sugar contains 4 calories / gram, erythritol is only 0.24 calories / gram.
Truvia is almost impossible to affect your body weight.
And because erythritol is not metabolized by the body's cells, it does not have any effect on blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides or other biological signs .
For people who are overweight, diabetic or have problems related to metabolic syndrome, (or erythritol) is a good alternative to sugar.
Conclude: Truvia has almost no calories. Erythritol is not metabolized in the body, and does not affect blood sugar or other health signs.
Truvia has been condemned for claims claiming "natural" products.
Unfortunately, the public is not aware of the chemicals used in the patented manufacturing process .
But based on refined ingredients in It is clear that this sweetener is not "natural" at all.
In year and there were two class action lawsuits against Cargill using the word "natural" in the product marketing program.
The case has confirmed that Rebaudioside A and erythritol are in processed truvia, and the erythritol they produce is derived from corn. .
Cargill decided to settle before the court made a decision.
However, they still deliberately deceive consumers and use the word "natural" on marketing materials.
Conclude: Cargill, the manufacturing company was brought to court for using the word "natural" to blatantly advertise. Although Cargill had resolved the issues before the decision was made, Cargill still used the word in their marketing materials.
Side effects
Some components in has been studied, but the effects of Truvia sweetener have not been carefully considered.
In one trial of high-dose rebaudioside A users for 4 weeks, no side effects were found.
This research is funded by Cargill, the manufacturing company .
A recent controversial study shows that erythritol is toxic to fruit flies. Researchers even suggested using as an environmentally safe pesticide .
Although causing concern for many people, these findings are not really related to humans and mammals that can tolerate erythritol easily.
However, the main concern lies in the type of sugar derivatives of alcohol such as erythritol because it can cause digestive problems.
It seems that erythritol is better tolerated than other types of sugar derivatives, because most of these substances are absorbed and then released. And it also cannot reach the large intestine in significant amounts .
One study has shown that gastrointestinal symptoms only occur when taking large amounts of erythritol about 50 grams at a time .
Another study found that, compared to the amount of sorbitol (a commonly used alcohol sugar), you have to eat four times as much erythritol as possible to cause diarrhea .
The tolerance between people is different, so you should only consider the above information for reference. If you have problems with sugar derivatives in the past, be careful when using .
The use Frequently do not cause digestive problems for most people, at least if you consume in a reasonable amount.
Conclude: The main ingredients in Truvia are quite safe for the body, with little or no side effects on the digestive system. However, the tolerability between people is different.
is a pretty sweetener, but it certainly isn't "natural"
Although the marketing information is untrue and the mystery of "natural flavoring" is a bit confusing, it seems Still a usable sweetener.
It hardly contains calories , does not affect blood sugar and insulin levels, and causes few side effects for most people.
certainly better than sugar, and better tolerated than many other sweeteners.
So if you can tolerate well and like the taste of As well as wanting to add this product to the diet, I don't have any reason to stop you.
Although Not a natural sweetener and the marketing program behind it really matters, but this sweetener seems to be much healthier than many other types.
