Albert Bustos

Albert BustosMarketing CoordinatorDNP InternationalTel: 562-205-1430Fax: 562-205-1440

The extract of the leaves of the banaba, a tropical plant growing predominantly in the Asian tropics, has "actions in stimulating glucose transport into cells and can thereby help maintain healthy blood sugar levels," explains Albert Bustos, marketing manager for DNP, Inc., Whittier, CA. "For some people, fluctuations in blood sugar are related to appetite hunger and various food cravings for carbs, such as breads and sweets.

According to Albert Bustos, public relations manager at DNP International Inc. (Whittier, CA), Shugr also has prebiotic properties."Shugr tastes, cooks, and bakes like sugar, and it even rises, browns, and caramelizes," Bustos says, adding that a trace amount of sucralose provides a high note to the flavor of Shugr.

9. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), another alternative sweetener, is derived from a plant native to Paraguay."Stevia is an extract derived from stevia leaves containing 90% minimum total steviosides," says DNP's Bustos."One of stevia's greatest attributes is that it contains no calories or fat."However, Bustos adds that it is not generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in foods and beverages and must be labeled as a supplement.

"With the dangerously high percentages of Americans living with obesity and diabetes, sweeteners' ability to mesh with other ingredients plays a vital role in enhancing lifestyles," says Albert Bustos, marketing manager for an ingredients distributor."Those affected will have more choices in foods and beverages."

When it comes to formulating a sweet taste, scientists continually strive to meet the ultimate goalâ€"blending ingredients in such a way as to precisely imitate the profile of sugar."Sugar's taste is the benchmark flavor of a sweetener, hence the products touting ‘tastes like real sugar,'" says Bustos.