Healthier sugar substitutes
Find healthy alternatives to sweeten your meals.
Sugar has a bad reputation when to comes to health discussions. Cavities, weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure and addiction are just some of the health issues which can grow if your diet has too much added sugar.
As people become more aware of the damage it does to our bodies, there is a growing demand for natural sweeteners that are much easier for your body to digest and process. Here are four natural sweeteners that have the most health benefits to your body compared to sugar.
Raw honey
Most dieticians agree that raw pure unrefined honey from local sources is the best natural sweetener. Honey is not just a sweetener, it is a food which contains amino acids, specific types of electrolytes and antioxidants, and antimicrobial compounds that can really support the health of your body.Stevia
This natural sweetener is from a plant leaf originally used by the indigenous tribes in South America. It is especially good if you have blood sugar issues, if you’re overweight or if you have diabetes. Ideally, you should get full, green leaf stevia. There are many brands of the extract on the market that are highly processed with other chemicals.Dates
Raisins, apricots and other dried fruits can all be used as sweeteners. Dates are very high in fibre and potassium, as well as other vitamins and minerals.Maple syrup
Look for 100% pure organic maple syrup for use in cooking, or to pour over pancakes or waffles at breakfast. Maple syrup has a higher antioxidant capacity than sugar and up to 24 different antioxidants. These antioxidants occur in the form of phenolic compounds, to help reduce free radical damage that can cause inflammation and contribute to the formation of various chronic diseases.
