You mentioned Erythritol. What exactly is it?

      Erythritol is a natural ingredient called a poly-ol– sometimes called a
      sugar alcohol– that has been part of our diet for thousands of years.
      It’s found in foods like pears, grapes, melons, mushrooms, and in
      “fermentation-derived” foods like wine and cheese. Created from glucose
      in plants through a fermentation process, its molecular composition is
      changed. With a smaller molecule than standard sugars or other poly-ols,
      it’s digested rapidly in the small intestine, but absorbed slowly and
      incompletely into the blood. What little IS absorbed by the blood is
      metabolized without insulin, so that blood-glucose levels are not
      increased. In fact, it has a glycemic index of zero because it doesn’t
      raise insulin levels. With no aftertaste, Erythritol makes the juices,
      fortified for added nutrition, taste sweet without added calories, sugar
      or carbohydrates.


      What makes Erythritol different from other poly-ols? Is it safe?

      Erythritol has the lowest molecular weight of all the poly-ols. It’s
      unique in that it has the highest digestive tolerance, purest taste, and
      cleanest finish of all poly-ols. Plus, Erythritol is derived from a
      natural fermentation process while most poly-ols are derived through
      hydrogenation. This is important because hydrogenated products and other
      commercial sweeteners can’t be naturally digested by the body. Erythritol
      can. But perhaps most important, Erythritol is completely safe. It was
      granted safety status by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in
      January 1997. Plus, Erythritol won’t contribute to tooth decay.


      Why did it take seven years from the FDA’s approval for Erythritol to be
      used commercially?

      Actually, it has been used commercially since its approval by companies
      like Cargill Foods®, who patented a brand of Erythritol, called Eridex®.
      But because the application of Erythritol in everyday products like
      beverages is more recent, we are only now starting to hear more about it.
      And because low-carb diets have increased the public’s interest in sugars
      and carbohydrates, people are now more interested in hearing about
      natural alternatives.


      If Erythritol is a sweetener, how can the label claim “no added sugar”?

      Because Erythritol isn’t absorbed into the bloodstream, and consequently
      won’t increase blood-sugar levels, it isn’t considered a sugar. When a
      claim like “No Added Sugar” is made on a product label, the manufacturer
      is required to indicate the sugar alcohol levels in the nutrition facts.
      When only one type of poly-ol is used in a product, the specific name of
      that poly-ol can appear in the nutrition facts box. Otherwise, the words
      “Sugar Alcohols” must appear instead.


      Could you provide some insight into why the popularity of such low-carb
      diets has skyrocketed? Are these diets fads, or do you think they’re here
      to stay?

      Sensible low sugar, low calorie nutrition programs that focus on complex
      carbs and stay away from simple carbs make sense. However, I think diets
      that advocate staying away from healthy foods like fruits and vegetables
      that we intuitively know we need ultimately lose their appeal. Over the
      years, we’ve seen countless fad diets come and go. Generally, the ones
      that reach the level of popularity enjoyed by Atkins® have one thing in
      common: they focus on short-term weight loss. Unfortunately, the weight
      lost on these diets is often regained, due in part to the fact that these
      diets tend to be difficult to follow. For example, at some point-
      everyone wants a piece of bread. We don’t completely understand the
      long-term health effects of such yo-yo weight gain and loss.


      How does a well balanced diet contribute to overall health?

      No single, naturally occuring (non-fortified) food available today
      contains all the essential nutrients for optimal health. That single fact
      points to the need for a well balanced, varied diet. Our bodies are
      really machines that operate on fuel. Our food and beverage choices
      provide the fuel intake required for life. The better fuel we choose, the
      better we will feel.