Sweet, but CALORIE-FREE. What is it?

This is something every sweet tooth dreams of, right? It may sound incredible, but calorie-free sweeteners exist, and at ZELEN, we now offer two of them! And no, we're not going to talk about artificially synthesized sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame, which are known for their many negative effects on the human body, but about…


ERYTHRITOL and STEVIA
Erythritol may sound like the name of a medicine, but it's actually a type of sugar extracted from fermented cultures. Its taste resembles that of white sugar, though its sweetness is a little more delicate. Since its glycemic index is 1 (compared to 65 for white sugar), the body does not perceive it as food and it does not affect blood sugar levels. That's why erythritol is suitable for use by people on low-calorie diets or suffering from diabetes or other diseases accompanied by hyperglycemia.

And stevia? We're sure you're already familiar with this plant and its sweet leaves, which we love to add to our afternoon tea. Like erythritol, stevia has no caloric value, and its glycemic index is 0. However, it is many times sweeter than sugar – the sweetness of 1 teaspoon of dried stevia leaves is equivalent to that of half a cup of white sugar, for example. And besides its intense sweetness, stevia also contains many beneficial substances like vitamins (A, C, B1, B2), trace elements (potassium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, sodium), and antioxidants. A small drawback is that it starts to taste slightly bitter if too much is used.

This is the moment to remind you that these sweeteners are less harmful than others, but if consumed in large quantities, they could have a laxative effect. Let's enjoy the sweetness, but always in moderation! 🙂

And did you know that besides erythritol and stevia, there's another natural sweetener with very few calories that has recently become quite popular?

XYLITOL
It's not zero-calorie, but it has 36% fewer calories than white sugar. It's just as sweet and leaves a slightly cool and refreshing sensation in the mouth, which is why you'll often see it as a sweetener in chewing gum and candies. Xylitol, like erythritol, is obtained from the fermentation of naturally sweet plants and is most often found in powder form. It is suitable for sweetening baked goods, raw desserts, and drinks.


And finally - we're immediately giving you a quick recipe for a healthy chocolate mousse! You'll only need one large ripe avocado, 2 tablespoons of raw cocoa, and 1/2 tablespoon of powdered xylitol. Blend everything until smooth and serve chilled with a few raspberries and mint leaves!