What is HG Monk Fruit?
What is HG Monk Fruit?
Monk fruit is known in Chinese as Luo Han Guo, it comes from a plant that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family.
It’s a small, green gourd that looks like a melon.
In 2010, monk fruit was approved by the US FDA as a natural sweetener.
Origin
The scientific name of Monk Fruit ( siraitagrosvenorii) was given to honor Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor: The father of photojournalism, who as president of the National Geographic Society, helped to fund an expedition in the 1930’s to find the living plant in China, where it was cultivated.
Benefits:
• Natural sweetener with no known side effects.• Antioxidant properties.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Does not affect blood sugar levels.
• May promote weight loss.
• Anti-tussive & phlegm reducing properties.
• Its sweetness is due to the presence of 66 or more mogrosides (they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as they inhibit certain harmful molecules and help prevent damage to your DNA and are 250-350 times sweeter than sucrose).
Studies
• It relieves allergies! When our bodies experience something to which we are allergic, our body’s mast cells release several chemicals into our system, one of which is histamine. This is what causes allergic reactions. The extract of monk fruit has been proven to prevent this activity of mast cells, reducing the histamine and eliminating common allergies. This chemical is also connected to reducing asthmatic reactions, which can save lives.
• Anticancer potential. Although research is somewhat limited in this area, the studies that have focused on monk fruit’s impact on cancer cells have found that it has anticarcinogenic properties.
• Anti-aging properties
• Improves heart health.
• Weight loss
• Boosts immunity.
• Reduces inflammation.
Applications
- table-top sweeteners
- beverages
- bakery
- sauces and syrups
- cereals
- frozen dessert
- dairy and yogurt
- fillings and frostings
- puddings and gelatins