NOW Foods Erythritol Natural Sweetener, 1 lb

What customers say about NOW Foods Erythritol Natural Sweetener, 1 lb?

1. 114 of 116 people found the following review helpful

   
   Great erythritol, best sugar alcohol for keto, June 2, 2016

   By 

   Serenity Carson –

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   This review is from: NOW Foods Erythritol,2.5-Pound (Health and Beauty)

   As someone who has been eating keto/low carb for more than a year now, I’ve had experience with pretty much every mainstream sweetener out there and when I need something granulated, erythritol is my go to. It’s generally regarded as having zero net carb/caloric impact, which is more than more sugar alcohols can say. It also doesn’t have the unfortunate bathroom-related side effects that sugar alcohols like malitol can have in large quantities. The taste of xylitol is the most similar to sugar as far as sweetness and flavor goes, but erythritol is a close second minus the slight glycemic effects of xylitol.

   It also beats out granulated stevia and sucralose (Splenda), which can taste and measure like sugar depending on the formulation, but are almost always granulated using a filler like maltodextrin which adds to the carb count, especially when used in the amounts necessary for baking or similar. These things might not make a difference if you’re just trying to lower your sugar or calorie intake, but for strict low carb dieters, every carb counts. Erythritol doesn’t require any fillers to make it granular.

   The one downside of erythritol is that it can have a cooling effect in large quantities. It’s not an “after taste” so much as it is an “after feeling”, similar to the slight cooling/tingling sensation you might get after eating something minty. I counter this in my low carb baked goods by combining erythritol with another sweetener like stevia or xylitol. Stevia and erythritol are a particularly complimentary combination because the erythritol cuts the slight bitterness of the stevia and the stevia cuts the cooling effect of the erythritol, resulting in a nice balance.

   Of course, there are stevia/erythritol blends like Swerve that already come combined in this way, and I think that could be a good place to start for those who are new to working with sugar alternatives. I personally find it more cost effective to buy larger bags of the individual sweeteners and combine as needed, which also gives me the freedom to use different ratios depending on the recipe.

   The NOW Foods brand makes great products, and they are generally among the most cost competitive for buying sweeteners. I usually buy the 2.5 lb bag and it lasts me a couple months as a relatively heavy low carb baker, so I think it’s a pretty good value. I’m really happy with their erythritol, and plan to keep buying it.

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2. 27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

   
   * * A Great Baking Blend * *Naturally Sweet & Naturally Loved * *, May 14, 2016

   By 

   DeeDeep –

   Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

   This review is from: NOW Foods Erythritol Natural Sweetener, 1 lb (Health and Beauty)

   In my opinion Erythritol is the best of the Zero Glycemic Index Sweeteners and I really like the Now Foods brand.. I couldn’t take all the bloating and gas I got from most of the cakes, cookies and ice creams sold commercially with the artificial sweeteners they were adding.. They’re full of Xylitol, Sorbitol, etc, that work on the gastrointestinal tract. Sure they don’t have calories, but you pay for it in other ways. That tradeoff, isn’t good for your health. I only use two sweeteners now for everything and that’s pure Stevia & Erythritol. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, but I find with my diabetes they work the best for keeping me Healthy and my A1C’s in check

   Erythritol does cloud, when you first mix into opaque liquids, but clears up quickly.

   For most of my baking I mix Erythritol with Stevia. You have to kind of experiment, to find the blend you like. I think they actually sell a blend of that, but I’m sure it’s much cheaper to make your own and you can adjust it to how you like. I can’t tell you how to mix it, because there are different forms of Stevia (in much different strengths).

   Most people who have used Erythritol are familiar with the mint-like cooling effect on the tongue sometimes experienced. By mixing the Stevia & Erythritol for Drinks & Baking, I haven’t had that problem. I might add that I have Celiac disease, so all my baking is Gluten Free. It’s works great for gluten free cooking, so I can only imagine it would work OK for regular wheat flour too. I use Almond Flour, Rice Flours, Sunflower Seed Four, Garbanzo Bean Flour Etc. I use a bunch of different flours and the Now Foods Erythritol/Stevia blend I mix has suited me well.

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3. 64 of 69 people found the following review helpful

   
   To safely be able to enjoy a desert once in a while is wonderful, April 21, 2016

   By 

   ruth tilford mather –

   Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

   This review is from: NOW Foods Erythritol,2.5-Pound (Health and Beauty)

   I am a type 2 diabetic. To safely be able to enjoy a desert once in a while is wonderful. My husband and I have a college Bible Study once a week. I have made treats , birthday cakes, brownies, cookies, all my regular receipes with erythritol instead of white sugar and no one could tell the difference. My numbers don’t go up, I’ve lost down to my young weight , I wear a size 6-8 and I’m 75. We are all thrilled with Erythritol!!!!! I want to try the brown one and powdered one next. Thank you.

   

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