Another natural remedy is being mentioned, and it’s definitely shining in the spotlight these days, following the latest reports. Check out what could be the cure for covid, cancer, and diabetes as well.
Benefits of monk fruit
Monk fruit, like stevia, is a natural sweetener that has gained popularity recently. One of its benefits is its ability to regulate blood sugar and lipid levels. It may even have antiviral properties against COVID-19 and anti-cancer properties. Monk fruit is also referred to as luo han guo and resembles a small melon on the outside.
It has been used in Chinese traditional medicine and as a natural sweetener for centuries. A review in Frontiers in Pharmacology states that monk fruit contains mogrosides, vitamin C, trace elements, linolenic acid, and other unsaturated fatty acids, making it a nutritious option.
“Monk fruit does actually contain natural sugars. Those are mainly fructose and glucose. However, unlike most fruit, the natural sugars from monk fruit aren’t really responsible for the sweetness. Instead, the intense sweetness comes from a group of compounds called mogrosides,” Taylor Wallace, an adjunct associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and CEO at the Think Healthy Group LLC, said in a recent interview.
“The extracted mogrosides from monk fruit, obtained through processing, don’t necessarily contain fructose or glucose. So these are very similar compounds to what you would see in other high-intensity sweeteners,” Mr. Wallace said.
Did you know that mogrosides are incredibly sweet? They’re actually 200 to 350 times sweeter than sucrose, and monk fruit sweetener is made from mogrosides.
Mogrosides make up about 1.2 percent of fresh monk fruit and 3.8 percent of dried fruit powder, according to a review in Molecules.
As a natural sweetener from plants, there are different molecules that make up mogroside, each with a unique taste. Nate Yates, the Vice President of the Global Sugar Reduction Platform at Ingredion Inc., explains that mogroside V is the most abundant of these compounds. That’s why ripe monk fruit is so sweet – it has a high content of mogroside V.
Once mogrosides are refined and extracted, their taste becomes even more pure and pleasant.
Anti-diabetic effects
Monk fruit sugar is a calorie-free sweetener that is often compared to cane sugar in taste. A randomized controlled trial conducted by the International Journal of Obesity in 2017 involved 30 healthy men who were given beverages containing sucrose, aspartame, stevia, or monk fruit sweetener one hour before lunch, after consuming a standardized breakfast.
The participants were given a variety of lunch options and their dinner was recorded for analysis. Throughout the study, blood draws and appetite measures were taken at various intervals to further assess the effects of each sweetener.
Benefits against COVID-19
For centuries, the monk fruit has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to alleviate symptoms such as cough, sore throat, bronchitis, and asthma.
According to a review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, records show that it has been effective in relieving phlegm, reducing pain, cooling the body, and moisturizing the lungs for over 2,000 years, using TCM terminology.
Jonathan Liu, a Georgian College professor of Chinese medicine and director of Liu’s Wisdom Healing Centre in Canada, advises consuming monk fruit during the summertime to relieve symptoms such as cough, sore throat, or throat discomfort.
Monk fruit extract, specifically mogrosides, can reduce the release of inflammatory factors and prevent pulmonary fibrosis, according to a review in Molecules.
Many animal studies have shown that monk fruit extract has significant cough-suppressing and sputum-enhancing effects. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in the management of asthma while providing a protective effect against acute lung injury.
Anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties
Various experiments have shown that mogrosides have comprehensive anti-cancer properties. Foods’ review indicates that they can inhibit the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells, induce cell apoptosis, and impede the proliferation of colorectal and laryngeal cancer cells.
Furthermore, mogrosides can disrupt the growth cycle of pancreatic cancer cells and lead to cell death. The Frontiers in Pharmacology review states that monk fruit extract has also been discovered to have inhibitory effects on liver cancer.
In addition, a Cancer Letters paper reports that mogrosides may inhibit the toxicity of carcinogens. For example, a commentary in Future Medicinal Chemistry reveals that they can help prevent skin cancer caused by exposure to certain chemicals.
Benefits for the brain and nervous function
According to reviews from Molecules and Foods, mogrosides have potential benefits in managing Alzheimer’s disease and improving schizophrenic behaviors in mice.
Mogrosides have antioxidant properties that can protect cells from reactive oxygen species and inhibit DNA oxidative damage, slowing down the aging process.
They may also prevent exercise-induced tissue damage and improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and preventing liver fat accumulation.
Monk fruit also contains flavonoids and polysaccharides that demonstrate strong antioxidant activity.
We hope that you enjoyed our article and that you will try switching from sugars to stevia and monk fruit natural solutions for better health.
