Few people know that regular sugar is one of the most harmful substances for the human body. Firstly, sugar contains a considerable amount of calories, and there are no nutrients at all. Secondly, excessive consumption of sweets spoils not only the figure but also health. Spikes in blood sugar are dangerous because they can cause diabetes or even cancer. Therefore, this article is dedicated to all those with sweet tooth. Here are five natural foods that are great substitutes for regular sugar.
The products are listed in random order, and the numbering is given simply for your convenience. All of the natural sugar substitutes mentioned in this article have their pros and cons. Although they are healthier than sugar nevertheless, they should not be overused!
Table of Contents
Honey
First on the list is natural honey. It is tasty and very healthy: it contains many vitamins, amino acids, and minerals that a healthy body needs.
In addition, honey has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties and can also be used as an antibiotic. Often it is recommended to eat honey to enhance weakened immunity. Since honey is somewhat sweeter than sugar, adding less honey can obtain the desired smoothie sweetness. Honey can also be added to tea, coffee, porridge, cold desserts, cocktails, and smoothies. You should not add honey to scorching foods, as its useful properties decrease at temperatures above 40 degrees.
Dried fruits
Dried fruits are lovely substitutes for sugar. These include dried apricots, prunes, dates, figs, raisins, and other dried berries and fruits. The only drawback is a very high-calorie content, so you should not eat them in excessive quantities. For example, the calorie content of one date is 23-25 calories, and a teaspoon of refined sugar “with a slide” – 28 kcal. I hope this example is indicative of understanding how high-calorie dried fruits can be. Dried fruits can be added to desserts (sweets, cookies, halva), to various cereals, and can also be used (pre-soaked) in any smoothie recipe as a sweetener.
Agave syrup
Agave syrup or nectar is obtained from the sugary juice of dark green agave, which outwardly resembles a giant aloe. Doctors recommend using it for people with diabetes as a natural sweetener. Agave syrup contains essential nutrients for bone health, such as calcium and iron. In appearance, agave syrup is not much different from honey we are used to, but it tastes a little sweeter. Unlike honey, this syrup is excellent for hot desserts and drinks, as it retains its beneficial properties even at high temperatures.
I personally really like agave nectar. It has a pleasant sweetish taste and no aftertaste, and it dissolves perfectly in hot drinks, even without stirring. If you do not like honey, you will definitely like this syrup. I don’t know why, but sometimes honey makes me heartburn, and my stomach always reacts calmly to agave syrup. I once made homemade chocolate with it, and it turned out incredibly delicious. So, I recommend this option to all those with sweet tooth.
Stevia extract
The extract obtained from the stevia plant is a well-known industrial sweetener. Its herb tastes about ten times sweeter than sugar, while the extract is 200 times as sweet. Therefore, you need to add drinks and desserts in tiny quantities – literally at the tip of a knife. Otherwise, the dishes will come out too cloying and bitter in taste. Like agave syrup, stevia extract is resistant to high temperatures, so you can safely use it in both cold and hot dishes and baked goods.
Jerusalem artichoke syrup
Jerusalem artichoke syrup is obtained from the roots of a plant known to many summer residents – Jerusalem artichoke. Jerusalem artichoke is famous because it does not accumulate harmful substances (for example, nitrates), unlike other root plants. Moreover, Jerusalem artichoke syrup has a very low glycemic index, so it is recommended for consumption even for people with diabetes.
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is another delicious, natural sweetener. He comes from Canada, which produces most of the syrup around the world. Real maple syrup has a slightly woody flavor. This delicious syrup is often used as an ingredient in baked goods and desserts, as a sweetener in cocktails and smoothies, or simply as a sauce for sweet dishes such as pancakes and pancakes. The most exciting thing is that maple syrup has received universal attention not so much for its sweet qualities but for the presence of a large amount of natural antioxidants and valuable minerals such as manganese and zinc.
Molasses
Molasses (syrup) is a by-product or “waste” resulting from the processing of sugar-containing plant materials (beets, cane) into refined sugar. For reasons I do not understand, molasses is classified by the domestic food industry as a fodder product and is used only in animal feed. But in Canada and the United States, this product is widely used for culinary purposes: in baked goods, sauces, cocktails, and various drinks.
Molasses have a low glycemic index; the glucose it contains is slowly absorbed without causing sudden surges in blood sugar. Molasses is an excellent alternative to sugar and much healthier than it. It contains iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, and selenium.
