Are you a sugar addict? Do you crave it like it’s going out of style? Are you one of the 80 percent of Americans who, in some way, harms their health by eating too much of it?
According to the food industry, we are all sugar addicts. In fact, Americans’ dietary consumption of added sugars exceeds the global average by a factor of 5 to 1. It doesn’t have to be this way. You see, as Americans, we used to have natural sweeteners like honey, which we consumed in abundance as a natural alternative to sugar. But with the industrialization of agriculture and the takeover of the sugar industry, sugar has become a highly processed, artificial food that is now one of the leading causes of chronic disease and obesity.
In this article, we will discuss the top 5 sweeteners used in modern cooking to replace sugar.
Stevia
Stevia is a synthetic natural sweetener that is equivalent in amount to sugar. It is often used in low levels as a beverage sweetening agent, in baked goods and other food products to give them a more natural taste and texture and even in personal care products to reduce the stinging and burning sensation associated with added sugars.
It is a completely safe choice for your body and is not known to cause any side effects. As for taste, stevia has a slightly bitter taste, but it can usually be adjusted to taste whatever you want.
Honey
Similar to stevia, honey is a natural food sweetener. What’s even better is that honey not only sweetens your beverages or snacks, but it is also beneficial for your skin and hair. Since honey is a source of many minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins, such as vitamin A, C, or D, it should be consumed not only as a sugar substitute but also as part of a varied diet.
Honey can be used in cooking and baking, and can also be used to make a honey-based juice or syrupy drink. If you like oatmeal, white or Greek yogurt, or other sweet food, consider adding one tablespoon of honey.
Coconut sugar
Coconut sugar is obtained from the sap of the coconut tree and is white, granular, and very sweet. Coconut sugar is healthier for you because it is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sugar alcohols. It is also lower on the glycemic index, so it’s a good choice for people who are trying to lose weight. Coconut sugar is a great source of vitamins B2, B6, and E.
Coconut sugar can be used as regular white sugar – to sweeten your beverages, for cooking or baking.
Date Syrup
Date syrup is not as harmful as sugar, as it is a natural sweetener. It comes from dates, which are natural sweeteners and one of the healthiest fruits ever.
Date syrup has a lot of health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. It is particularly high in fiber, antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin C.
Date syrup can be used for cooking in many ways – as a condiment, to add flavor to cooked foods, or to make a smooth drink. It can also be used in baking. For example, it can be used as a sweetener in baking recipes, or to make cakes and cupcakes rise and puff. You can use date syrup to make a smooth drink by using it as the main sweetener and adding ice cream or whipped cream.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sweet white native sugar derived from the bark of certain trees, such as the willow-apple or the birch tree. It’s up to 10 times sweeter than sugar, similar in taste to corn syrup, which is why it is used in some foods as a substitute.
Although xylitol is not the best sweetener (that’s why it’s last on this list), it is still a better choice than white sugar. Xylitol is not very calorie-dense, so it does not have a high concentration of calories. This means that it is a good source of natural sweetness, and it also has a low glycemic index.
Xylitol can be used just like regular white sugar, but since it is much sweeter, you must first experiment and test how much xylitol suits you best.
Final Words
These were five sweeteners that you can use to replace unhealthy and addictive sugar. For me personally, honey is number one because it is delicious and offers a wide range of health benefits. However, for people who want to lose weight or need to watch their blood sugar, stevia might be a better option. Whatever sweetener you choose, you’re one step closer to better health.
