Monk Fruit – Magical Fruit With Many Health Benefits
Monk fruit also known as “Luo Han Guo”, Buddha fruit, the Lohan or Arhat fruit is a sweet fruit and its healing properties are known for centuries. The fruit grows on a vine and it was named after Buddhist practitioners, called “luohan”. Thanks to its high antioxidant levels monk fruit has long been considered as the “longevity fruit.” Throughout the centuries, along for its magical sweetening powers, it was also used medicinally as a cough remedy, expectorant, and for help with other respiratory diseases.
Organic Monk fruit supports the immune system, respiratory system, digestive tract, and glands.
This fruit contains compounds that are naturally sweeter than the cane sugar by 300–400 times. The best thing is that it has no effect on blood sugar and no calories.
In fact, its extract has a powerful effect on diabetes. It can decrease blood sugar, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and improve liver function. In addition, it increased the “good” cholesterol HDL while protecting the antioxidants in the liver.
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Monk Fruit Nutrition Facts
Monk fruit is not like most fruits. Its sweetness is due to its high content of powerful antioxidants called mogrosides. They have very sweet taste, and body metabolizes them differently than natural sugars. That’s why these fruits have no effect on blood sugar and contain no calories.
The only way to enjoy fresh monk fruit is to visit the Asian regions. This is because of its short shelf life – quickly after harvesting they begin to taste rotten. When they are fresh, they offer vitamin C and 25 to 38 percent various carbohydrates.
Monk Fruit Health Benefits
Besides it is considered as one of the safest non-sugar sweeteners Monk fruit has been used as a remedy for digestive disorders, fever, colds, coughs, and lung diseases for centuries.
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Excellent for Diabetes and Obesity
Monk fruit sweetener unlike table sugar and high fructose corn syrup is extracted from the non-GMO fruit. Because it works as a natural obesity treatment using this fruit can help those already suffering from diabetes and obesity from furthering their condition. (1) A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition reported that not only was there a decrease in sugar levels, but also there was evidence of lower urinary albumin levels and cell damage in the rats receiving monk fruit. This indicates it also works protective for the kidneys from diabetic damage. (2)
It works well as a natural diabetes treatment and numerous studies have also shown it allows better insulin secretion in the body due to its targeted antioxidant abilities toward pancreatic cells. (3), (4)
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Powerful Antioxidant
Mogrosides are compounds that give the Monk fruit’s, its intense sweetness, and they are also powerful antioxidants. This makes monk fruit nothing less than a superfood.
Studies have shown that these compounds can significantly inhibit DNA oxidative damage and reactive oxygen species. (5), (6).
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Prevents and Fights Cancer
Opposite than the other sweeteners which are proven to increase the risk of cancer, a sweetener from monk fruit has the power to reduce it. Numerous studies have proven that natural sweeteners contained in monk fruit have anti-carcinogenic effects. Its abilities extend from providing proteins that have potent anticancer abilities to inhibiting breast and skin tumor growth.(7), (8), (9), (10)
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Natural Coolant and Anti-Inflammatory
Ancient usage of monk fruit included drinking tea to cool the body from internal and external sources and ailments from heat stroke to fever.
It also has anti-inflammatory properties. The most positive thing is that it fights inflammation without any harmful side effects as many of modern anti-inflammatory medications come with.
Its anti-inflammatory properties are proven by many studies. (11), (12)
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Fights Infections
When it comes to fighting infections monk fruit shows amazing results in inhibiting the growth of bacteria. It is especially proven in the treatment of oral bacteria that can cause periodontal disease and tooth decay. (13), (14)
These studies have also show that this fruit also has the ability to fight some forms of candida symptoms and overgrowth.
- Works as a Natural Antihistamine
When used repeatedly, monk fruit extract has shown an ability to fight allergic reactions. (15)
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Fights Fatigue
Some studies also show that monk fruit extracts can successfully decrease fatigue. (16) This is one of the reasons why it has long been referred to as the “longevity fruit.”
DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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This article appeared first at Health Tips Now and appears here with permission. Like on Facebook!
