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Ask Leyla: Is yacon syrup a good sugar substitute?

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a tuber vegetable native to South America with a texture and flavor similar to jicama or pear and an appearance like a sweet potato. It is composed of water and the prebiotic FOS (fructooligosaccharides). FOS has been found to be helpful in feeding the beneficial bacteria in the gut, given its prebiotic nature—but this can be a double-edged sword.

Frequent use of yacon syrup (more than two teaspoons a day) can cause gastrointestinal distress such as nausea, bloating and diarrhea. Too much FOS may be the culprit because it also feeds bad bacteria, if present. Therefore, FOS should be avoided if you have SIBO and taken with caution in the presence…

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 Yacon Syrup Benefits For Weight Loss & Diabetes Debunked

Before you get scared off, remember that it’s still healthier for you than almost every other form of sugar. Sure, the ratios of fructose, sucrose and glucose varies immensely between sugar, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, agave, date sugar, and blackstrap molasses, yet all of those are made of 100% digestible sugars. The difference with the carbs in yacon syrup is that up to 50% of them can’t be digested. That makes using yacon syrup for weight loss better than all of those, assuming you’re consuming an equal portion that you otherwise would of table sugar, honey, etc.

Articles of Interest

The Super Health Benefits Of Yacon Syrup

We live in a pretty cool time for health and wellness. We can head to the grocery store and stock our pantries with all sorts of superfoods and medicinal roots that have only recently been discovered in different cultures around the world. We have so many yummy options for eating exactly what our bodies need, it’s nuts! When it comes to sweet superfoods, one of our personal favorites is yacon syrup. Yacon syrup benefits the body in many different ways, let’s take a look at them all!

We Tried It: Does Yacon Syrup Help You Lose Weight?

Did I get my money’s (and time’s) worth? The jury’s out. But I did discover a healthier alternative to sugar. And that’s good enough for me — and my bikini.

What to know about yacon syrup, the natural sweetener...

Ask anyone about natural sweeteners and you'll hear words like honey, monkfruit, stevia, molasses and maple syrup. There is another, more under-the-radar sweetener that you may start hearing more about, though. It's called yacon syrup and it comes with the approval of famous foodie Daphne Oz, who described it as "an ingredient we're going to see a lot more of" on a recent episode of her "Mom Brain" podcast.

Yacon Syrup: A Healthy Sugar Alternative

Yacon syrup is derived from the root of the yacon plant. This member of the sunflower family is found in South America, and Peruvian people use the root chopped in sweet dishes. The syrup has a distinctive flavor, not unlike molasses or caramel.

Yacon Syrup: A Healthy Sugar Substitute??

Even though yacon syrup has a lot of benefits, some call it a double-edged sword. Consuming more than two teaspoons of it a day may lead to bloating, nausea, and diarrhea as too much of FOS can feed the bad bacteria. Individuals who have SIBO should avoid the yacon syrup, as the FOS it contains is a FODMAP and may feed candida.

Yacon Syrup: A Healthy Sweetener Option?

Much of that sweetness is due to a high concentration of fructooligosaccharides in yacon syrup. More conveniently referred to as FOS for short, they’re often associated with a “have your cake and eat it too” scenario, whereby tastebuds register the sweetness, while the digestive system can’t actually metabolize it.

Yacon Syrup: Improve Digestion & Immunity with This Prebiotic (+ Other Benefits)

Refined sugar and sweeteners made artificially are extremely hazardous for your health. There really are no “best artificial sweeteners,” but there are great alternative sweeteners or “healthy” sweeteners out there. Yacon syrup is one of them.

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Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a tuber, whose syrup contains a large amount of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are carbohydrates that are partially absorbed and prebiotic in nature. Yacon may have benefits for intestinal health and may reduce appetite, but studies on it are limited.