Eight Natural Alternatives To Sugar

To sweeten your food in a healthy way, you can try different alternatives to sugar. In addition to preventing health complications, you can reap other benefits from eating them in moderation.

Despite its delicious taste, sugar can cause many diseases if consumed in large quantities. These include obesity, heart disease and diabetes, among others. Fortunately, however, there are many natural alternatives to sugar that you can use in foods and drinks.

The most natural way to sweeten your food is to use stevia, honey or xylitol. Read the following article for more information on this topic.

Eight natural alternatives to sugar

1. Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is widely used as a replacement for sugar, especially by people on a weight loss diet. This is because it contains fewer calories and does not promote weight gain. It is extracted from the leaves of a stevia rebudiana shrub.

Stevia raises the glucose level in the blood less quickly than white sugar. In this way, it can help fight the common problems associated with diabetes.

It can be used as a powder or liquid. The taste and sweetness may vary. These variations are linked to the presence and amount of sweeteners they contain. That is why some variants are more famous than others.

2. Coconut sugar

Coconut sugar contains a small amount of fiber and nutrients. Though considered healthier than regular sugar, it is high in fructose and should be consumed in moderation.

This can be a good option to replace sugar naturally. You do have to be careful though. Remember that anything too much is bad. Use it only in small amounts for sweetening:

juices
tea
certain dishes

3. Erythritol

Erythritol is a lower calorie option that can replace sugar. It is essentially sugar alcohol, but it contains only 6% of the amount of calories. This makes it a good choice as a substitute if you want to sweeten food or drinks without gaining weight.

It is also safe for diabetics to consume. It does not increase the levels of insulin and glucose in the blood. So are cholesterol and triglyceride levels. People with cardiovascular risk factors can therefore consume it without it affecting their health.

4. Yacon syrup

Yacon syrup is extracted from a plant of the same name. It is sweet, dark and has a thick consistency similar to molasses.

It contains between 40% and 50% fructooligosaccharides, a type of sugar molecule that the human body cannot digest. For this reason, like erythritol, they do not produce any effects that are harmful to the body.

While consuming it is considered safe, taking too much of this syrup can cause some digestive discomfort. The most common effects are gas and diarrhea.

5. Xylitol

Xylitol is one of the natural alternatives to sugar

Xylitol is extracted from natural sources. It is a good alternative to refined sugar. This is a sugar alcohol with a sweetness very similar to it.

However, it does not raise blood sugar. Consuming regular sugar will increase these levels due to the fact that it contains fructose. Xylitol, on the other hand, does not contain this component.

Xylitol also has the ability to reduce the risk of cavities and increase bone density. This is mainly due to the fact that it increases the absorption of calcium in the body.

6. Honey

This superfood should not be forgotten as a natural alternative to sugar! Honey contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to the body. It is also commonly used to treat respiratory problems and strengthen the immune system.

Sugar and all substitutes should not be consumed in excess. So don’t let the delicious taste fool you. Use it to sweeten coffee and other drinks, but don’t use more than a teaspoon.

7. Molasses For Sugar Replacement

Molasses has a consistency similar to honey. However, it is darker in color. It is one of the natural alternatives to refined sugar. You just need to add a teaspoon of molasses to whatever you want to sweeten.

Believe it or not, it contains nutrients that improve the health of your bones and heart. Molasses can also help regulate blood sugar levels. For this reason, it is a very suitable option for diabetics to sweeten their food and drinks.

8. Maple Syrup

Maple syrup contains minerals and a large number of antioxidants. In addition, it has various effects on the human body, including:

strengthening the immune system.
helps muscles to recover.
maintaining normal blood sugar levels, provided it is not consumed excessively.

It also helps to reduce anxiety, so using it can help prevent possible “binge eating” or overeating. This, in turn, will reduce the risk of obesity.

Nature can provide you with many options that can help you enjoy a balanced diet rich in nutrients. So forget about the use of processed sugar and improve your health.

If you are in the group of people at risk for diabetes, opt for natural alternatives to sugar by choosing a natural product. You may then be able to avoid becoming a victim of this disease.