{"title":"Protein Powder Without Artificial Sweeteners","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat counts as an artificial sweetener?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's no official definition. The FDA groups these ingredients as high-intensity sweeteners: sweeteners many times sweeter than table sugar. Six are approved as food additives: saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), sucralose, neotame and advantame. Purified stevia leaf extracts and monk fruit extracts reached the market through GRAS (\"generally recognized as safe\") notices instead.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-1\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen people say \"artificial sweeteners,\" they usually mean that group of six, which are synthesized rather than extracted from a plant. Sugar alcohols like erythritol and xylitol are a separate group, often used alongside them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSweetener\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat it is\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eIn fitppl protein?\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSucralose\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproved food additive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAcesulfame potassium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproved food additive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAspartame\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproved food additive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStevia (steviol glycosides)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLeaf extract, GRAS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eErythritol\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSugar alcohol\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMonk fruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFruit extract, GRAS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"fpl-yes\"\u003eYes, our only sweetener\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy people skip them\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor many people it's taste: an aftertaste they'd rather not have in a daily shake. For others it's the research. In 2023 the World Health Organization recommended against using non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight or lower the risk of disease, noting that much of the long-term evidence is observational.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-2\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same year, the WHO's cancer research agency classified aspartame as \"possibly carcinogenic\" based on limited evidence, while a separate WHO expert committee kept its acceptable daily intake unchanged at 40mg per kilogram of body weight.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-3\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSugar alcohols raise their own questions. A 2023 study linked higher blood levels of erythritol to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, though it couldn't show cause and effect.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-5\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e Our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/nutrition\/erythritol-free-protein-powder-why-you-need-it\"\u003eerythritol-free protein powder\u003c\/a\u003e covers what that research can and can't tell us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy we use monk fruit\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth fitppl proteins are sweetened only with monk fruit extract, from the fruit Siraitia grosvenorii, also called luo han guo.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-1\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e It lets us add a little sweetness with no sugar, no stevia and nothing synthetic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo be straight with you: monk fruit is still a non-nutritive sweetener, and the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise avoiding both added sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-4\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e If you want no sweetener at all, an unsweetened protein powder is the strictest choice. If you want some sweetness without sugar or synthetic sweeteners, monk fruit is where we drew the line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to check on the label\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe ingredient list.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sweeteners are listed there by name, so look for sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, stevia (or Reb A) and sugar alcohols.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFront-of-pack claims.\u003c\/strong\u003e \"No sugar\" or \"naturally sweetened\" doesn't tell you which sweetener is used.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlends.\u003c\/strong\u003e Some products pair two or three sweeteners, so read past the first one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe rest of the formula.\u003c\/strong\u003e Neither fitppl protein uses gums or \"natural flavors.\" Read why some people avoid \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/nutrition\/why-protein-powder-without-stevia-is-important-for-your-health\"\u003estevia in protein powder\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're also cutting sugar, see our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/sugar-free-protein-powder\"\u003esugar-free protein powder\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"clean-vegan-protein-powder-stevia-free-gluten-free","title":"Foundational Plant Protein","description":"\u003cp\u003eFoundational Plant Protein is a daily plant protein shake with 18g of protein from organic brown rice, pea and hemp seed protein, plus organic fruit, greens and adaptogens. Each 28g serving has 100 calories, less than 1g of sugar and 0g of added sugar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e18g of protein per serving from organic brown rice, yellow pea and hemp seed protein\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrganic fruit: goji and acai in Vanilla \u0026amp; Goji, wild blueberry and pomegranate in Cocoa \u0026amp; Blueberry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrganic greens, including spirulina\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e500mg adaptogen blend of organic ashwagandha, reishi and lion's mane\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSweetened only with monk fruit, with no stevia, gums or added sugar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDairy-free, soy-free, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten-free\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo flavors, Vanilla \u0026amp; Goji and Cocoa \u0026amp; Blueberry, in a 20-serving bag or 10 single-serving packets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"fitppl","offers":[{"title":"Vanilla \u0026 Goji \/ 20 Serving Bag","offer_id":47820237930777,"sku":"VG-BAG","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Vanilla \u0026 Goji \/ 10 Single Serving Packets","offer_id":47820238356761,"sku":"VG-BOX","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cocoa \u0026 Blueberry \/ 20 Serving Bag","offer_id":47820240847129,"sku":"CB-BAG","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cocoa \u0026 Blueberry \/ 10 Single Serving Packets","offer_id":47820240879897,"sku":"CB-BOX","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0852\/1757\/5193\/files\/VG-2026-Front.jpg?v=1780425454"},{"product_id":"optimal-organic-plant-protein-powder","title":"Optimal Plant Protein","description":"\u003cp\u003eOptimal Plant Protein is organic plant protein powder made with just four ingredients: organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, organic vanilla and organic monk fruit. Each 36g serving has 26g of protein, 150 calories and 0g of sugar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e26g of protein per serving from organic pea and brown rice protein\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSweetened only with organic monk fruit, with no stevia, erythritol or added sugar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo gums, natural flavors, dairy or soy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten-free\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeavy metal results from the independent lab Light Labs published on the product page\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVanilla flavor, 30 servings per bag\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"fitppl","offers":[{"title":"Vanilla \/ 30 Serving Bag","offer_id":49098912825625,"sku":"OPP-V-30BAG","price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0852\/1757\/5193\/files\/updated-optimal-bag.jpg?v=1788114381"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0852\/1757\/5193\/collections\/CB_Glass.jpg?v=1794013357","url":"https:\/\/fitppl.com\/collections\/protein-powder-without-artificial-sweeteners.oembed","provider":"fitppl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}