Monk fruit sweetener tops the list for weight loss and diabetes, expert says

Nutritionist Shalini Sudhakar says monk fruit sweetener is the best choice for weight loss and diabetes, as it provides sweetness with little or no calories, unlike sugar, jaggery, or palm sugar. Regular sugar, jaggery, and palm sugar each provide around 60 calories per tablespoon, with glycemic indexes of 60, 70, and 65 respectively, offering no significant advantage. Jaggery's 1 mg of iron per tablespoon is too small to be a meaningful mineral source. Monk fruit extract, a non-nutritive sweetener, can be used in beverages and baked goods. However, consumers should check labels, as some products are blended with other sweeteners that add calories and carbohydrates.