Artificial sweeteners can help you dodge the extra calories, but there’s a lot more to them than just the calorie swap-out. Regular use of artificial sweeteners might lead to side effects like bloating, cravings, or even a taste-bud dependency on hyper-sweet flavours.
Keeping things natural is the best course of action. Finding a protein powder without artificial sweeteners is possible. You can get the protein you need without having to sacrifice taste or needing to rely on artificial ingredients. In fact, our vegan protein powder offers some of the top natural alternatives out there. Good for your gains without compromising on taste or nutrition? Read on to learn more about how (and why) we do it.
Not all artificial sweeteners are the same
The FDA has given the green light to five artificial sweeteners—saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, and sucralose—along with one natural low-calorie sweetener, stevia. Stevia, however, is technically a natural sweetener. We'll dive into this a little deeper a bit later on, but for now, let's understand the differences between these sweeteners.
Essentially, the way they impact cravings and taste perceptions varies. Some of the above-listed options are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, which means they can overstimulate our taste buds, making natural foods like fruits taste less sweet by comparison. If you use artificial sweeteners regularly, regular foods will eventually become less satisfying. This can lead to more cravings for the intensely sweet, low-calorie flavours found in artificially sweetened foods. The day that a ripe apple is not sweet enough—you've got a problem.
A touch of sweetness without artificial ingredients
At Pure Plant Protein, we use erythritol and stevia, two low-calorie natural options that have unique benefits and can be used for sweetening things with no added calories.
Erythritol, a type of sugar alcohol, occurs naturally in foods like fruits and mushrooms. It’s often produced by fermenting simple sugars from corn, making it accessible and easy to add to foods. With its mild, neutral sweetness, erythritol is a go-to for blending into beverages. Unlike some other sugar alcohols, it doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste, and it’s also gentle on digestion. It won't affect blood sugar or insulin levels, so it's a great option for those mindful of glucose spikes.
Stevia comes from the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It's much sweeter than sugar and is often combined with erythritol to balance its intense sweetness and create a more familiar sugar-like flavour.
Erythritol and Stevia's unique advantages
Stevia has actually been a go-to sweetener for centuries (South American indigenous communities have used the leaves for over 500 years). So, it's a natural product that’s about 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, with virtually no calories or sugar impact, and it might even have positive effects on insulin levels! You may experience a slight aftertaste, but we think these benefits far outweigh this minor downside.
Erythritol, which was discovered in the mid-19th century, offers about 70% of the sweetness of sugar but with the same mouthfeel, making it an excellent sugar substitute that doesn’t leave any aftertaste. It’s also gentle on the digestive system since about 90% of erythritol is absorbed into the bloodstream and excreted without being metabolised. This means it won’t cause the gastrointestinal distress that can sometimes come with other sugar alcohols.
Both erythritol and stevia also share the incredible benefit of not affecting blood sugar levels, perfect for low-carb diets or managing diabetes. They are both free from calories and contribute no additional sugars to your daily intake - just a combo that creates a balanced sweetness, which is why we decided to use both in Pure Plant Protein!
Exceptional nutrition, quality, simplicity, and natural ingredients
Unlike many protein brands that use artificial additives or low-grade ingredients, we prioritise pure, ethically sourced components blended in-house to ensure the highest quality and protein content.
With our use of naturally derived flavours and non-artificial sweeteners like erythritol and stevia, Pure Plant Protein delivers a clean, delicious taste without any unwanted chemicals or fillers. Plus, we keep our ingredients list short and straightforward, so you know exactly what you’re putting into your body.
