Sugar is sweet and tasty – that’s a given. However, according to surveys, people nowadays tend to be health-conscious and avoid sugar in order to ward off ailments like diabetes. Sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium and saccharin, are now dominating in the market. But there have been studies that show these alternatives aren’t good for your health, either.
As a result, there has been a global need for alternative sweeteners that can give the same taste but reduce or even avoid the risk of chronic diseases. Sweeteners that are naturally extracted have undergone less processing. This list includes some alternative sweeteners that you might want to try.
Molasses are substances that are left over during the process of refining natural sugar cane into white sugar. They contain lots of rich nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and Vitamin B6.
Dates are natural ingredients that taste as sweet as sugar, thus are more likely suitable in sweetening tasty desserts. Dates are rich in Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, potassium and calcium. You can try it in puddings and bars or make some date balls with coconut and nuts.
Natural honey contains has antioxidants derived from collected pollens. The darker the honey, the higher the antioxidant value is. Raw or unprocessed honey is best for health- conscious people because they contain more nutrients and sweetness than the processed ones. You can try it in teas, desserts and even in yogurts.
Natural maple syrup coming from maple trees are also a good alternative because they produce sweet, tasty syrup when boiled. A majority of the people who have tried using this syrup said it is best in pancakes and waffles. But maple syrup can also be suitable for homemade ice cream and some lightly sweetened desserts such as yogurts.
Maple syrup contains small amounts of calcium and zinc and a significant amount of riboflavin. Riboflavin contains antioxidants and is essential for deriving energy from the food you eat.
Stevia is a natural sweetener that is calorie-free and is about 100 times sweeter than refined sugar. Stevia is the only natural sweetener that is known to be calorie-free. Like other alternatives, try stevia in different tasty treats.
We want to enjoy life and enjoy food. But sweets have proved to pose health risks. It is blamed for causing many diseases and health complications. With the abovementioned alternative sweeteners, you can still enjoy your beloved sweets while making sure that you are also taking good care of your health. There is no need for you to completely avoid sugar as you have alternatives that will allow you to enjoy the same sweetness that you have always wanted. Always remember, choose natural so that you can enjoy life to the fullest!