We know that sugar finds its way into almost everything but we can certainly avoid a good deal of it if we make our own fresh food using healthier sugar alternatives.
Sugar not only lacks nutritional value, but it is considered thoroughly addictive and even toxic. It’s bad for our teeth, makes us gain weight and actually damages vital organs by depleting the body of its own vitamins and minerals.
Let’s look at three natural solutions that are healthier and just as delicious.
- Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar happens to be my personal favorite choice of sweetener due to its rich and pure taste (by the way, it doesn’t at all taste of coconut). Unrefined and straight from the sap of a coconut palm tree, coconut sugar is the perfect replacement for refined white or brown sugar.
With a store of vitamins and nutrients, coconut sugar contains nothing artificial and has not been altered chemically in any way. One of the biggest advantages though is that our blood sugar levels remain a lot more stable after consumption. Its glycemic index is only 35, compared with white sugar which is around 65. This means no more sugar rushes and less of a risk to our insulin levels and diabetes.
- Maple Syrup
Pure maple syrup from Canada is authentic and unprocessed, containing many minerals and antioxidants. Maple syrup’s glycemic index is 54 and so also doesn’t raise blood sugars quite as much as white sugar.
- Yacon Syrup
Yacon syrup is derived from the yacon plant and has recently been used in weight loss efforts due to its low calorie count and has even shown to be beneficial in maintaining heart health. Yacon syrup also boasts an extremely low glycemic index, perfect for those on a diet.
But remember…
It is important to note that while the above three natural sweeteners are a great replacement for refined sugar due to the fact that 1) they’re natural 2) they’re unrefined 3) they contain vitamins and minerals and 4) they have lower glycemic indexes, this doesn’t mean that we should not exert moderation when consuming these foods. At the end of the day, they are still considered sugars and too much sugar in any form is not good for the body. Indeed, these sugar replacements can help us with our cravings for sweet foods but should not form the basis of our diets.
