What Is Yacon Syrup?
Yacon syrup is a natural sugar substitute grown in the foothills of the Andean Mountain region of South America, and was first used by the ancient Incas. It is recommended for those suffering from or at risk of developing diabetes. Others use it for ethical and health reasons. Yacon syrup is derived from the roots of the yacon plant, which is very similar to common sunflower plants. The enzyme that makes yacon root sweet is Fructooligosaccharide (FOS); 50 percent of yacon plant roots are made up of FOS. Does this Spark an idea?
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For Diabetics
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Since yacon syrup does not contain glucose, many diabetics use it on a daily basis as a sugar substitute. Since the body cannot process FOS, it leaves the body without being absorbed or stored.
For Vegans
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Vegans use yacon syrup for ethical reasons. Some white sugar is filtered and bleached using animal bones. This is not always the case, but manufacturers of sugar are not required to say whether or not they use this filtering and bleaching process. Most manufacturers use the process at some times and then not at others, making it impossible for vegans to know if white sugar is truly a vegan product or not.
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For Weight Loss
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Yacon syrup is extremely low in calories because its main enzyme can not be retained by the body. Those on diets for cosmetic or health reasons can use yacon syrup without worrying about empty calories.
Taste
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The taste of yacon syrup is compared to molasses, caramel and honey. It has a richer, stronger taste that regular sugar, and should be used sparingly in recipes.
Health Benefits
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According to a February 2008 study published in "Clinical Nutrition Magazine," it has been shown that yacon syrup is beneficial to the body when used moderately. It contains bacteria, similar to that found in yogurt, and helps to regulate the digestive system. In Brazil, it is commonly used along with traditional methods to fight diabetes. Yacon syrup also does not pose any of the potential health risks that some artificial sweeteners do.
Availability and Price
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Yacon syrup is sold mostly in health food stores and specialty markets. It typically sells for about $15 for an 8 oz. jar in the United States. While the price of yacon syrup may seem high when compared to regular sugar or honey, it is much sweeter, and less is needed.
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Resources
Comments
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newyork-organic
Dec 19, 2010
I have to question where you got some of your information. For example: 1)"The enzyme that makes yacon root sweet is Fructooligosaccharide (FOS)". FOS is not an enzyme, it is a polysaccharide (in this case, a type of sugar). 2) "It contains bacteria, similar to that found in yogurt". It does not CONTAIN bacteria (at least it shouldn't, unless contaminated). It nourishes the bacteria which already naturally occur in our systems. The idea behind the bacteria in yogurt is that you are adding more colonies of the good bacteria, to crowd out the bad. FOS also feeds those same bacteria by allowing them to ferment it.
