If you look at the back of almost any "Keto" or "Sugar-Free" sweetener on the shelf, you will see the same first ingredient: Erythritol. It’s cheap, it’s zero-calorie, and it’s everywhere.
At Pure Monk, we made a difficult choice. We chose not to use a single gram of Erythritol in our product, Sway. This decision made our product more expensive to produce, but after you read the science below, you will understand why we refuse to compromise.
Here are the 3 Scientific Reasons why Pure Monk is Erythritol-Free.
1. The Heart Health Warning (The "Nature Medicine" Study)
For years, Erythritol was assumed to be perfectly safe. However, in February 2023, a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine shook the nutrition world.
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic analyzed over 4,000 people and found a startling correlation:
Key Findings:
- The Finding: People with higher levels of Erythritol in their blood were at a significantly higher risk of "Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events" (heart attack, stroke, or death).
- The Mechanism: The study found that Erythritol appears to make platelets "hyper-reactive," meaning they are more likely to clump together and form blood clots.
- The Risk: Those in the top 25% for Erythritol levels had roughly 2x the risk of a cardiovascular event compared to those with the lowest levels.
At Pure Monk, our mission is health. We cannot in good conscience use an ingredient—no matter how cheap—that has such serious potential flags raised by top medical researchers.
2. The "Cooling Effect" (Why Cookies Taste Cold)
Have you ever bitten into a sugar-free chocolate chip cookie and felt a weird, icy sensation on your tongue? That is called the Endothermic Cooling Effect.
- The Chemistry: When Erythritol crystals dissolve in saliva, they absorb heat energy from your tongue to melt.
- The Result: A physical temperature drop inside your mouth.
While this "minty" freshness is great for toothpaste or gum, it is terrible for baking. It makes brownies, cakes, and coffee taste artificial and strange.
3. The "Polyol" Problem (Gut Health)
Erythritol is a Sugar Alcohol (Polyol). While it is better tolerated than some older sweeteners (like Maltitol), it is still a FODMAP that can cause digestive distress.
Because your body cannot break it down, it travels to the gut where it can draw water into the intestines or ferment. High doses (often found in "keto treats") are linked to nausea, stomach rumbling, and bloating.
Sway (Allulose) behaves differently. It is absorbed by the small intestine but not metabolized, so it typically exits the body without sitting in the gut and causing the same level of "heavy" fermentation associated with sugar alcohols.
Conclusion: The "Champagne" of Sweeteners
We built Pure Monk to be the healthiest sugar alternative in India, not the cheapest.
- Erythritol is the "cheap filler" of the industry.
- Allulose & Monk Fruit are the premium, natural gold standard.
When you use Sway, you are paying for peace of mind. No heart risks, no "cold" chemical aftertaste, and no compromise. Just pure, natural sweetness.
Scientific References
- Witkowski, M., et al. "The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk." Nature Medicine (2023).
- NIH Research Matters. "Erythritol and cardiovascular events." National Institutes of Health (2023).
- Icon Foods. "The Polyol Lost but Not Forgotten: Erythritol" (Endothermic Properties).
- "Gastrointestinal Tolerance of D-Allulose in Healthy and Young Adults" (PMC6315886).