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Monk fruit: anti-inflammatory sugar free sweetener

luo han guo (monk fruit, fructus momordicae, momordica grosvenori, siraitia grosvenorii) on wooden background.Monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) extract is reportedly 300-400 times sweeter than cane sugar but has no effect on blood sugar and has significant anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show this magical fruit can also fight fatigue and prevent cancer thanks to its significant anti-oxidant activity which prevents DNA damage.

Several members of the curcubita family, which includes butternut squash and monk fruit, possess antihistamine properties. I haven’t found any studies on monk fruit and histamine as of yet, but I did find an animal study that found it to inhibit nose scratching via a “mast cell-dependent mechanism”. For those of you new to my website, histamine is not just found in foods, but also contained in white blood cells called mast cells, which are part of the white blood cell system. When triggered by allergens, food intolerance, junk food (nope, not making that up, read about it here) and stress, mast cells release histamine and other inflammatory agents to try and resolve the issue/trigger the healing process. Only sometimes they’re not needed, or the inflammation can become chronic.

According to Dr. Axe, the sweetness of monk fruit is thanks to its powerful antioxidants rather than natural sugars. How amazing is that?

With the anti-sugar hysteria reaching a peak this year (seemingly at least) I was grateful to discover that my new favourite sweetener has such a wonderful profile nutritionally. My challenge has been finding a good, pure source, that won’t bankrupt me! If you have one, please share. For now I’m trying out various organic brands mixed with erythritol, a sugar alcohol. Not really something I like the sound of…

Why give up sugar?

Well, other than (seemingly) everyone on the planet telling us it’s linked to cancer, diabetes (this we knew), alzheimer’s and dementia in general, I came to realise that cane sugar left me feeling really inflamed, exhausted and often quite dizzy. Not to mention that it used to leave a disgusting aftertaste on my tongue.

I’m such a sugar freak that if offered the choice of an unlimited number of bags of potato chips (that will never make me gain weight!), or eating a bar of raw organic dairy free chocolate off the New York subway floor, I’d choose the latter so fast it’d make your head spin like it’s on a pinwheel (while totally grossing you out).

Thankfully, with monk fruit, I haven’t had a bitter aftertaste or a feeling that I haven’t actually had something sweet.

While I generally use whole foods like coconut sugar and date syrup or sugar (made from whole dates) in my dessert recipes, I’m grateful to have something new on the market that offers a guilt free alternative, that isn’t stevia or yacon, neither of which have really hit home for me.

That it’s anti-inflammatory makes it all that little bit sweeter…

It’s finally here! Man Food – a high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredient filled book geared towards guys, women who love to work out, yoga like they mean it, or just load up on healing nutrients. Features my personal shopping list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods.

The Anti-cookbook and all liquid Anti-Detox Book, don’t treat any conditions, but feature a plethora of the high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredients that have been instrumental in helping me feed myself on a limited diet. The Anti-cookbook features a four page list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods and comes in regular and Paleo.

The Low Oxalate Cookbook features antihistamine and anti-inflammatory rich recipes.

Don’t miss the Low Histamine Beauty Survival Guide for non-toxic beauty tips, the skinny on histamine releasing (mast cell degranulating) beauty ingredients, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory beauty alternatives and the top brands natural brands I’ve found.

Take a peek at my other low histamine and antihistamine cookbooks for more high nutrient recipes

—— REFERENCES ——-

“Siraitia grosvenorii.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 08 Mar. 2017. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.
“Monk Fruit: Nature’s Best Sweetener?” Dr. Axe. N.p., 12 Jan. 2016. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.
Jin, Jong-Sik, and Jong-Hyun Lee. “Phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Siraitia grosvenorii, luo han kuo.” Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine 12.4 (2012): 233-39. Web.
 Rachchh, Manisha, and Sunitam Jain. “Gastroprotective effect of Benincasa hispida fruit extract.” Indian Journal of Pharmacology 40.6 (2008): 271. Web.

Da-Duo Liu,a Xue-Wu Ji,a,* and Rong-Wei Lib. “Effects of Siraitia grosvenorii Fruits Extracts on Physical Fatigue in Mice.” Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. Iran J Pharm Res. 2013 Winter; 12(1): 115–121.

 

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