Dr. Andrew Weil's
Self Healing: Creating Optimum Health For Your Body And Soul
October 2007

What is your opinion of the new sweetener ZSweet?

This natural, calorie-free sweetener appears safe, and I think it's a better substitute for baking and flavoring then sucralose (Splenda) and other artificial sweeteners, which I don't recommend using. ZSweet is a blend of erythritol (a sugar alcohol found in many fruits and fermented foods like soy sauce, cheese, and wine) and other fruit extracts. The crystalline white powder is about 70 percent as sweet as sugar, and lacks the bitter aftertaste of some artificial sweeteners. Unlike table sugar, ZSweet is considered safe for teeth by the FDA and, unlike many artificial sweeteners, is unlikely to cause gas or cramps. It has no effect on blood sugar, so it's also safe for diabetics. You can find ZSweet at natural food stores.