The spotlight is on Paleo Sweeteners now, as we’re living in times with sugars and carbs in processed foods everywhere, causing epidemic health challenges worldwide. Many people are turning to the Paleo diet for answers and guidance. What did our ancestors eat? What is the best diet that humans were genetically designed to eat? By following a diet close to the ancestral diet, many people hope to restore health and balance in our bodies. See also my research and chart in 300 Sweeteners,Which is Best?, and “Natural” Sweeteners, A Closer Look. I confess that I have a strong bias in favor of low-carb sweeteners because of our current epidemic of sugar addiction, obesity, and diabetes. Please do share your comments below.
True Paleo Sweeteners were hunt-and-gather foods. I’m guessing our ancestors enjoyed sweets prepared from plants using their hands and stone tools. We’re looking at the Paleolithic period from 2.6 million years ago to 10,000 years ago. Some preparation and fermentation may have been possible, however it would have been very simple.
Here is a list of sweeteners charted in order of their % carb content. *
Sugars are carbs. Are these Paleo or not? Send your comments at the bottom.
Here’s my take on each sweetener, alphabetically. As usual, the devil is in the details.
African Berries (0% carbs, Paleo Sweeteners)
These amazing African berries are as old as the hills, a clear indication that our ancestors could have enjoyed sweet foods. Their sweetness is not from carbohydrates, but rather from highly concentrated sweet proteins. Recently re-discovered as sweeteners, some have been approved for soft drinks and prepared foods. Some have been industrially synthesized. You won’t find them on nutrition labels, as the sweetness is so concentrated, their miniscule weight is far less than the 0.5 grams per serving required. (Picture 50 lbs. of sugar sweetness on the head of a pin!)
- Katemfe berries are 3,200 times as sweet as sugar, and contain a sweet protein called Thaumatin that is sold under the brand name Talin by Naturex.
- Brazzein berries are 1,000 times sweeter than sugar, and marketed by cweet.com.
- Monellin comes from the African Serendipity Berry is 1,500 times as sweet as sugar, and has already been approved for use in some countries.
- Monatin, a natural sweetener 1400 times sweeter than sugar, comes from the plant Sclerochiton ilicifolius in South Africa.
These African berries are true Paleo sweeteners, plus they’re 100% free of carbs and sugars. I’m intrigued about them but haven’t used them yet. Will these amazing berries make it into our kitchens soon?
Agave Nectar (Refined, 85% carbs, not Paleo)
This delicious sweetener is made from the agave plant. The juice is heated and hydrolyzed to make syrup, which is comparable in calories to table sugar and about 150% as sweet. Raw agave juice is clearly an unrefined Paleo sweetener. However, once it is boiled down and processed, that’s refined. And it’s surprisingly high in carbs -79% – 95%, often higher than high fructose corn syrup. However the carb content varies as there’s no industry standard for how to produce it. Agave syrup has a low glycemic level and doesn’t cause a sudden spike in blood sugar. That’s because agave’s main sugar is fructose, which is absorbed more slowly, and is digested in the liver. However new research shows that fructose is even more harmful than table sugar. Doctors say that consuming more than 20 grams (4 1/4 teaspoons) of fructose per day can trigger insulin response, metabolic imbalance, high cholesterol, and weight gain.
Artificial Sweeteners (0% carbs, Not Paleo)
Sweeteners such as Splenda, Aspartame, Equal, Saccharin, Sweet’N Low, Sucralose, Acesulfame K, NutraSweet, etc. have zero carbs. Artificial sweeteners range from 3 times to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar. We often don’t see high intensity sweeteners listed on packaged food labels. That’s because their miniscule weight is often far below the legal minimum of 0.5 grams per serving, therefore manufacturers are not required to list them.
Beet Sugar (100% Carbs, Not Paleo)
Beet sugar comes from the plant Beta vulgaris, whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose sugars. About 55% of the white sugar sold in the USA is from sugar beets. In the USA about 95% of the sugar beets grown are genetically modified. Unless your beet sugar is labeled “organic”, it is probably gmo. You can find beet sugar in stores labeled as “sugar”, and cane sugar is usually labeled “cane sugar”. Beet sugar is cheaper than cane sugar, and much of it is used by the food industry.
Brown Rice Syrup (90% Carbs, Not Paleo)
Also known as rice syrup, this is a sweetener made by cooking rice, straining, and reducing the liquid to a thick, sweet syrup. The final product is 45% maltose, 3% glucose, and 52% maltotriose. That means it’s high in carbs. Rice is considered a grain, which is not Paleo.
Cane Sugar (100% Carbs, Not Paleo)
Sugarcane is the world’s largest crop. Raw sugar is extracted from freshly harvested cane, bleached, and purified by centrifuging, phosphated or carbonated, filtered, concentrated, and finally dried into crystals. All cane sugar is high-sugar, high-glycemic, and not considered Paleo. This includes organic, not organic, cane juice, cane crystals, raw sugar cane, cane syrup, molasses, and brown sugar.
Coconut Sugar (Refined, high in fructose, 92% carbs, not Paleo)
Coconut sugar (coconut nectar / coconut crystals) is produced from the delicious sap from cut coconut flower buds. This raw sap is a pure, unrefined Paleo sweetener with a flavor something like Turbinado sugar. To produce commercial coconut sugar, the raw sap must be boiled down or reduced by heating. It requires seven to eight gallons of raw sap to produce one gallon of coconut nectar. Refined coconut sugar is very high in carbohydrates (92%), often even higher than high fructose corn syrup. These numbers vary widely because there is no industry standard for coconut sugar. Coconut sugar has a low glycemic index because it is low in glucose. Its main sugar is fructose, which is absorbed more slowly and digested in the liver. However recent shows that all carbohydrate sugars are toxic to the metabolism, and fructose has the particular harmful effect of causing fat deposits linked to obesity and diabetes. You’re probably getting the idea that I do not recommend refined coconut sugar. But since Paleolithic rules aren’t carved in stone, they’re open to your interpretation.
Erythritol (0% carbs, Paleo Sweetener)
Erythritol (Ah-REETH-ra-tall) looks and tastes like table sugar. Don’t be fooled by its name, Erythritol is a natural sweetener. It is made by fermenting whole plant pulp into a zero-carb, granulated sweetener that can be used much like sugar. In fact, if you have the starter yeast Moniliella Pollinis you can make this in your own kitchen, sort of like Kombucha. For this reason I consider Erythritol a 100% natural, Paleo sweetener. I’m trying to imagine a Paleolithic cave fermenting system and it’s pretty far-fetched, but not impossible.
Erythritol is 70% as sweet as sugar, so it is measured differently. It takes 1 1/3 cups Erythritol to equal 1 cup table sugar sweetness. Erythritol has a cooling taste. It does not cause gastric distress like other fermented sweeteners, and it helps prevent tooth cavities. A great bonus!
Erythritol is challenging to work with. It doesn’t dissolve as easily as table sugar, and often develops crystals if chilled or frozen. This makes it risky in cold desserts. I find that Zero by Wholesome Sweeteners works well, as the granules are very small. Most Erythritol sold is made from GMO corn stalks. Zero is unique because it is pure, non-GMO Erythritol, not a blend with other ingredients. You can buy Zero Erythritol at Whole Foods Markets, Wholesomesweeteners.com or Amazon.com.
Another Erythritol option is called Swerve sweetener. It is made of non-GMO erythritol plus oligosaccharides and natural flavors. At this time it appears to be safe for most people. You can buy it for about $12 per pound online at Swerve Sweetener or Amazon.com.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (79% carbs, Not Paleo)
Also known as HFCS, this includes corn syrups that have been treated with an enzymatic process to make them sweet. Many doctors have raised health concerns about the high use of HFCS in the food industry, alleging that it is linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr Robert Lustig, endocrinologist at the U of C says fructose is more harmful than regular sugar, contributing to weight gain by overriding appetite controls. The majority of corn syrups in the USA are made from gmo corn.
Honey, Raw (82% carbs, Paleo, but high-carb)
Raw, unprocessed honey is a true Paleo sweetener that is twice as sweet as sugar. It is also regarded as a sacred superfood, and a remedy for many health ailments. Our ancestors were willing to take the risk of gathering it from beehives seasonally. But wait a minute – not every day! Honey is very high in carbs and calories, and it will give you a nice big blood sugar spike. It contains roughly 50% fructose, 44% glucose, and 1% sucrose – that’s close to sugar. For this reasons I reserve it as a rare Paleo treat, and do not use it in my recipes. However since there are no Paleo Police, you are free to choose.
Inulin fiber (0% carbs, Paleo Sweetener)
Inulin is a dietary fiber produced from plants such as chicory root and Jerusalem artichoke. Inulin has minimal impact on blood sugar, and is considered a diabetic-friendly aid in managing blood sugar. Inulin is a soluble fiber often prescribed as a prebiotic to promote healthy intestinal flora. Conversely, it is also considered a FODMAP, a class of carbohydrates which are problematic for certain individuals.
Just Like Sugar Table Top – Natural Chicory root fiber (0% carbs, Paleo Sweetener)
Just like Sugar Table Top is my favorite natural Paleo sweetener. After testing hundreds of sweeteners I use it because it dissolves easily, it tastes like table sugar, and is easy to measure cup for cup—like table sugar. It also happens to be a zero-calorie, zero-carb granulated sweetener that can be used like sugar. It gently sweetens everything, and I get no sugar rush or aftertaste from it. The Table Top version gives the best flavor and texture in desserts. (Better than the Baking version) Let me say right away that I am not paid or endorsed by Just like Sugar in any way – I just love their sweetener. Read about my visit to check out their factory.
Just like Sugar Table Top is made of crystal chicory root that is 96% dietary fiber, mixed with calcium, Vitamin C, and pure orange peel. Orange peel is a highly concentrated sweetener 600 times sweeter than sugar! Chicory root fiber is high in fructo-oligosaccharides, which taste sweet but do not affect blood sugar or cause weight gain. More information.
Buy Just Like Sugar Table Top in some Whole Foods Markets. If they are out of stock, you can ask them to order it for you. Ask for the 1# bag of Table Top. Or buy it online from JustLikeSugarInc.com, Vitacost.com, Netrition.com, or Amazon.com. It is expensive – about $19 per pound, for 4.9 cups. Healthy food is expensive, partly because it’s not subsidized in our country like sugar, corn, etc. But how can you measure the cost of disease? I use Just Like Sugar in my recipes, and you’re free to experiment with YOUR favorite sweetener.
Lakanto (0% carbs, Paleo Sweetener)
This is a delicious granulated sweetener made from Non-GMO Erythritol and Luo Han Guo. It can be measured cup for cup like sugar. It has zero calories, zero carbs, and is zero glycemic. Available online at Body Ecology. It is a wonderful Paleo sweetener. Use it with the same challenges as working with pure Erythritol. It is expensive. Lakanto costs over $35.00 per pound.
Luo Han Guo (0% carbs, Paleo Sweetener)
Pronounced Lo-Han-GWO, this Chinese herb is a delicious zero-carb, zero calorie sweetener about 20 times sweeter than sugar. Siraitia grosvenorii is also called Monk Fruit, as it was cultivated for centuries by Buddhist luóhàn monks. Luo Han Guo is a 100% natural Paleo sweetener. The dried whole fruit powder has a delicious flavor similar to chocolate or molasses. Grown only in China by international law, Luo Han Guo is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic for the lungs. I suggest caution in buying Luo Han Guo as it is often mixed with other ingredients such as cane sugar or dextrose (a corn sugar). You can buy a good quality Lo Han Guo sweetener from Swanson Vitamins, called PureLo Lo Han Sweetener. It is mixed with inulin powder, and is approximately 2 x sweeter than sugar. You can also buy pure powdered Luo Han Guo extract at www.HoldTheCarbs.com. I believe it to be a very good concentrated sweetener. Or you can be a Paleo purist and buy the whole dried Lo Han Guo fruit from any Chinese herbalist (Ask for Plum Flower brand Momordica Fruit). Grind the whole un-peeled pods into powder using a super blender. It’s delicious!
Maple Sap, Raw (? carbs, True Paleo Sweetener)
Pure maple sap has been used for centuries by the American Indians. It is thick, sticky, and tastes slightly sweet. However it is very different from the commercial maple syrup that we know and love. If you can find raw, unrefined syrup, it’s an ideal Paleo sweetener. I don’t use it because it’s hard to find and not very sweet.
Maple Syrup, commercial (89% carbs, Refined, not Paleo)
Common maple syrup is refined by boiling the raw sap down into concentrated syrup. The sap is reduced to 2% of its original volume to make commercial maple syrup. It takes 55 gallons of raw sap to produce 1 gallon of commercial maple syrup. Is that Paleo? Maple syrup is very high in carbs – 85 to 93%, and especially high in fructose. The fructose content varies by grade. Maple syrup is a highly regulated industry, and each grade of syrup has a specific sugar content. Since maple syrup is refined and high in sugars, I do not use it in my recipes. I’m looking for a sweetener that will stop sugar addiction in its tracks, and clearly maple is not the one. Again, you’re free to choose.
Stevia Leaf, Green, Unprocessed (0% carbs, Paleo)
The leaves of the South American plant Stevia Rebaudiana are 30–45 times as sweet as table sugar. Pure stevia is available as a potted plant, in bulk dried leaves, or as a fine green powder. This raw, unprocessed stevia is a truly natural, Paleo sweetener. However many people find it has a strong bitter aftertaste something like licorice, which lingers for a time on the tongue, and this perception differs from person to person. You can buy bulk stevia leaves or green powder in food coops and online. You can know it is probably pure and unrefined because it is bright green. Get a stevia plant and grow it on your window sill. You can even make your own stevia extract or stevia syrup. Unrefined stevia is a wonderful Paleo sweetener!
Stevioside / Rebaudioside (0% carbs, refined, Not Paleo)
When the stevia leaf is processed commercially, its sweetness is extracted and concentrated using heat and chemicals. Typically ethanol or methanol are used as solvents to break the cell walls, and the residue is filtered many times. The result is white refined stevioside powder or liquid, sometimes called Rebaudioside. Industrially refined stevioside is 250 – 300 times sweeter than sugar, with zero carbs, and less aftertaste than raw stevia. Refined stevioside is often sold to the food industry in blends with sugar, artificial sweeteners, and/or other chemicals. I suggest you have any so-called “stevia” product professionally analyzed for toxins (formaldehyde, arsenic, etc.) before using it. I buy pure green Stevia Powder by Planetary Herbals from VitaCost or find other sellers on Amazon.com.
Truvia (0% carbs, Not Paleo)
Truvia is a sugar substitute developed by The Coca-Cola Company and Cargill. It is sold as a tabletop sweetener and food ingredient. The main ingredient is corn-based Erythritol. If it is not marked organic, I’d assume it is genetically modified. The additional sweetness comes from natural flavors and Rebaudioside, a refined extract from stevia leaves by a proprietary process.
Xylitol (72% carbs, Paleo Sweetener, but not recommended)
This natural granulated sweetener is made from fermented whole plant pulp. Since you can ferment it yourself with the starter yeast Pichia Stipitis, I consider it a Paleo sweetener. Xylitol is widely available. It is sometimes made from hardwoods, but nowadays it is most often made from GMO corn stalks. You can look for a non-GMO brand. Xylitol does not cause tooth cavities, and has a cooling taste. It is measured cup for cup like table sugar and has 70 % the calories of sugar. Since Xylitol is almost as high in carbs as table sugar, it might not help you totally break the sugar habit (I get a sugar rush from it). Xylitol qualities vary and some brands do not dissolve easily, causing crunchy crystals when chilled. Consuming more than 30 to 60 grams (2 1/2 to 5 tablespoons) per day may cause gastric bloating or diarrhea. Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and may cause liver failure. For these reasons I do not use Xylitol in my recipes.
Yacón Syrup, raw (55% carbs, Paleo Sweetener)
This delicious syrup comes from a South American tuber root like a potato. Yacón syrup has a natural caramel or molasses flavor. It contains inulin, which has a sweet taste but is low in calories and carbs. Since there is little standardization in the industry, some brands of Yacon are more highly processed, cooked, and therefore higher in carbs. I suggest care in buying it, especially if you are sensitive to sugars. Always look for raw Yacón, which is lower in carbs and sugars. Yacón is optional in my recipes and you should use it at your own discretion. While it is expensive, just one tablespoon adds a distinctive brown sugar flavor, and a small jar lasts me several months. I love raw Yacón syrup in Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pumpkin Bread and Fudge. If you try it I think you will enjoy the rich caramel taste. You can find raw Yacon syrup at some whole food markets, food coops, NavitasNaturals.com or Amazon.com.
See also my articles Best Natural Sweeteners, “Natural” Sweeteners -A Closer Look, and 300 Sweeteners – Which is Best?
(*) To count ALL the sugars, look for Total Carbs on the nutrition label.
This is the best way to measure sugar content. That’s because the FDA measures sugars as monosaccharides and disaccharides only, omitting all the longer chains. Certain sugars and corn syrups can be manipulated to show a low sugar content, by cutting the molecular chain wherever they want and show a much reduced sugar counts. That’s effectively a huge loophole and secret labeling trick for sugars. Therefore, to be sure your count includes all sugars, rely on the carb number from the label, rather than sugars.
The four classes of carbs by molecular structure are monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccarides are simple sugars like glucose, dextrose, and fructose. Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides are joined together. When most carbs are digested, they break down into simple sugars. So the question becomes – where do you draw the line between sugars and other carbs?
Let me know your comments. What’s your favorite Paleo Sweetener?
