Low Carb Sweeteners Guide | Low Carb Recipes by That's Low Carb?! (2024)

The ultimate low carb sweeteners guide to use while converting between low carb sweeteners or when turning a recipe using regular sugar into a low carb treat.

Low Carb Sweeteners Guide | Low Carb Recipes by That's Low Carb?! (1)

When going low carb is can be hard to figure out sugar alcohols and tackle the world of low carb eating. Especially when you want to convert your favorite cookie recipe to a low carb treat.

We’ve gone into detail about What Net Carbs are and sugar alcohols are. Here we are talk all about low carb sweeteners. We’ve provided a handy conversion chart below with some of the few possible low carb sweeteners out there.

Our new favorite low carb sweetener is monkfruit. What is monkfruit?

Monkfruit (aff link) has become an absolute favorite of ours. We’ve found for us that it causes no digestive upset for anyone in our family.

It’s sweetness is a 1-1 ratio to cane sugar. I do find that in sweets that sometimes I need to up the ratio a bit more though and it be closer to 2-1 ratio (monkfruit to cane sugar). Regardless it is divine and is our absolute favorite right now.

Our second favorite low carb sweetener is Erythritol. What is Erythritol?

Erythritol (aff link) If you’ve been a reader with us for a while erythritol is a natural sweetener that is about 65% less sweet than traditional sugar and has 0 calories.

For that reason and as you’ll see on the chart you do need to use more of it to compensate.

Erythritol is naturally found in some fruit and naturally fermented foods. It is perhaps why it is our favorite sweetener type since its pretty natural in respect to other alternatives out there. Most of our older recipes use erythritol for this reason. I also love that it has a powdered erythritol available for purchase that can be used for frostings like our cream cheese frosting and chocolate frostings.

It isssss slightly common to cause digestive upset in some though so it is something to keep in mind if you are new to sugar alcohols. Our family is a 50/50 some react and some do not. Which is why it’s our second favorite and now why monkfruit is the winner in our household.

erythritol vs xylitol

Xylitol (aff link) is another favorite and one you’ll find in our recipes. It is another natural low carb sweetener. We’ve used it a few times in our recipes and fortunately can be used in replacement of each other all the time.

Xylitol is 100% the same sweetness as traditional sugar and therefore most of the times is a direct 1-1 ratio. This only thing that I find with xylitol is that is sometimes has difficulties ‘melting’ down and if a dessert is not cooked hot or longer enough it can cause a grainy result. So generally I’d avoid this in dishes like our cashew chicken lettuce wraps where it calls for a little bit of sweetness at the end of cooking the dish.

erythritol vs stevia

Stevia (aff link) is another fabulous alternative. It comes in little packets or liquid drops. We prefer the liquid drops for adding to drinks. It is also 0 calories and does not raise blood sugar levels at all. It is harder to substitute stevia for granular substitutes though and can significantly change the outcome when baking.

But for adding to drinks, coffee and tea it is a FANTASTIC replacement. It is great for sweetening in our fat bomb coffee or if you want just a tad bit more sweetness into your batter after tasting it.

Low Carb Sweeteners Guide | Low Carb Recipes by That's Low Carb?! (2)

Now you have any idea WHAT sugar alcohols are. What does that mean now?

So now you know what sugar alcohols are and the types of sugar alcohols to use in the keto and low carb diet. I think the second biggest question we get is indeed how to calculate that into your carb and net carbs.

Head on over to our What are Net Carbs? if you need some guidance on this. This will help you on how to read a nutrition label and calculate your net carbs. We will also give you some guidance on where to go from there.

If you are here for the low carb sugar alcohol sweetener conversion chart. Here you go ?Â

Low Carb Sweeteners Guide | Low Carb Recipes by That's Low Carb?! (3)

Low Carb Sweeteners Guide | Low Carb Recipes by That's Low Carb?! (2024)

FAQs

What sweetener has the least amount of carbs? ›

Stevia. Stevia is non-nutritive, meaning it contains zero calories, carbohydrates or other nutrients, which is great news for anyone following a Keto diet.

What is the best keto sweetener for baking without aftertaste? ›

A natural sweetener like Sweet Like Sugar blend incorporates erythritol and stevia to provide a clean, sweet taste without the aftertaste associated with many other sugar substitutes. We at GOOD GOOD recommend it as the best tasting sugar substitute for your recipes.

What artificial sweeteners are keto-friendly? ›

Allulose, monk fruit, stevia, and erythritol are all keto sweeteners that taste and bake like sugar, without the negative health impacts. In fact, these low-carb sweeteners (all of which can be found right here at Splenda) have health benefits. You'll feel good about eating your keto cookie.

What sugar is good for low carb diet? ›

Sweeteners like stevia, sucralose, erythritol, xylitol, monk fruit, and yacon syrup can easily fit into a low carb or ketogenic diet. However, you may need to limit your intake of other sweeteners high in carbs or sugar on a low carb diet.

Which low carb sweetener tastes most like sugar? ›

Allulose. Allulose is nature's sugar replacement. It's a natural rare sugar without the sugar spike! These natural sweeteners taste like sugar, bake like sugar, and replace sugar easily, but have zero calories, zero net carbs, and zero glycemic indexes.

What can I sweeten my coffee with on keto? ›

The best sweeteners for keto are monk fruit or stevia. I prefer using liquid because I usually prefer iced coffee, which granulated sweeteners don't get fully incorporated into cold drinks.

What is the healthiest sugar substitute? ›

5 Natural Sweeteners That Are Good for Your Health
  1. Stevia. Stevia is a very popular low calorie sweetener. ...
  2. Erythritol. Erythritol is another low calorie sweetener. ...
  3. Xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol with a sweetness similar to that of sugar. ...
  4. Yacon syrup. Yacon syrup is another unique sweetener. ...
  5. Monk fruit sweetener.

Is peanut butter OK on keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

What is the best sweetener that tastes like sugar? ›

Studies suggest that allulose tastes pretty similar to the sugar you know and love. It doesn't have the bitter or chemical taste found in some other artificial sweeteners. And research shows that people find the sweetness of allulose comparable to sugar.

What sweetener has no aftertaste? ›

Like the sugar alcohols xylitol and inulin, erythritol has a sweet flavor that closely resembles table sugar (sucrose), without the bitter aftertaste found in other sugar substitutes such as saccharin, sucralose (Splenda), and aspartame (NutraSweet).

What is the best artificial sweetener without aftertaste? ›

Best Sugar Substitute Without Aftertaste: Erythritol

Erythritol, a key ingredient in our GOOD GOOD products, stands out as the best sugar substitute (especially given that it doesn't have an aftertaste).

What sweeteners don't break ketosis? ›

Top 6 Keto Sweeteners
  • Stevia. Stevia or stevia leaf extract is a low-carb sweetener. ...
  • Monk Fruit. Another keto-friendly sweetener is monk fruit (Luo Han Guo). ...
  • Erythritol. Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol (polyol) found in fruits like grapes and watermelon. ...
  • Xylitol. ...
  • Maltitol. ...
  • Yacon Syrup.
Apr 8, 2024

How much weight can you lose in 2 weeks without carbs? ›

The amount of weight you can lose on a low-carb diet in 2 weeks can vary widely depending on factors such as your starting weight, adherence to the diet, and individual metabolism. Some individuals have reported losing up to 10 pounds or more in two weeks, while others may experience less dramatic results.

What happens if you eat no carbs for a month? ›

Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache, fatigue and weakness.

How many carbs is considered low-carb? ›

The range of evaluated studies – all published between 2002 and 2022 – found that most trials defined low-carb as having 100 grams or less of carbohydrates daily. But many also had much stricter definitions, with carbs taking up only 40-60 grams per day.

What is the healthiest sweetener on keto? ›

Top 6 Keto Sweeteners
  1. Stevia. Stevia or stevia leaf extract is a low-carb sweetener. ...
  2. Monk Fruit. Another keto-friendly sweetener is monk fruit (Luo Han Guo). ...
  3. Erythritol. Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol (polyol) found in fruits like grapes and watermelon. ...
  4. Xylitol. ...
  5. Maltitol. ...
  6. Yacon Syrup.
Apr 8, 2024

What is the least unhealthy sweetener? ›

Natural sweeteners offer a healthy alternative without sacrificing the sweet taste. Sweeteners like fresh fruit, monk fruit extract, raw honey, pure maple syrup, coconut sugar, and blackstrap molasses can help satisfy a sweet tooth while providing other nutritional benefits.

Is monk fruit low carb? ›

People have used monk fruit for centuries in China, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only generally recognized it as safe in 2010. A monk fruit sweetener has no calories or carbs , so it will not raise a person's blood sugar levels. This means it is suitable for those following a keto diet.

Is stevia low in carbs? ›

Stevia is about 200 to 400 times sweeter than table sugar and is a non-nutritive sweetener, which means it has no carbohydrates, calories, or artificial ingredients. You can find stevia in powder or liquid form in supermarkets and natural food stores in the baking goods or health food aisles.

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