We’re big Dirty Lemon drinkers, and we just noticed the brand’s newest +Turmeric concoction contains an ingredient we’d never heard of before: luo han guo. As it turns out, it’s a natural sweetener we predict will be popping up all over the place this year. Here’s the lowdown.
What is luo han guo? Native to southern China, luo han guo is more commonly known in the U.S. as “monk fruit.” It’s a small, sweet gourd that’s rich in antioxidants, and it’s been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Luo han guo has tons of proven health benefits, like reducing sore throats—it’s even been proven to have anticarcinogenic properties. But because monk fruit extract is more than 200 times sweeter than sugar, luo han guo is mostly used as a natural sweetener.
So…it’s like stevia? Sort of. Like luo han guo, stevia is more than 200 times sweeter than sugar—but it’s extracted from a leaf, not a fruit. Although stevia is also derived from a natural source, the packets you buy in the store are actually pretty refined. So if you’re trying to stay away from refined sugar, luo han guo might be a better alternative.
And is it actually healthy? Integrative nutritionist Maria Marlowe, who uses it herself, tells us: “[Monk fruit] gets its sweetness not from sugar, like most fruit, but rather from powerful antioxidants called mogrosides, which are metabolized differently by the body than natural sugars. That’s why, despite tasting sweet, it is low calorie and zero glycemic, meaning it does not cause an unhealthy blood sugar spike the way refined sugar does.”
