Discover The 4 Best Sugar Substitutes

Today’s post is for all sweet tooths, including me. Although we all know that sugar is bad for our health and teeth, from time to time we can’t resist its sweet and delicious flavor.

With obesity levels rising at an alarming level, the food industry came up with all sorts of sugar-free, artificial substitutes. But most of them are no better for our health than regular sugar and could make things even worse. Moreover, we’ve all heard of the potential cancer risks caused by artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, neotame, sucralose, saccharin, and acesulfame-K, found in diet sodas and processed foods.

Should we then ban all sweetness out of our life? Absolutely not. Actually, there are many natural sugar substitutes that are healthy and giving you tons of other benefits for overall health.

ALSO READ: Easy Ways to Quit Sugar

The 4 Best Sugar Substitutes

1. Stevia

Stevia, a highly sweet herb, has been used for centuries as a sweetener in South-America and Japan. It is 100% natural and almost 300 times sweeter than sugar. Moreover, it contains no calories and doesn’t cause dental cavities or increase blood sugar levels. Further, it can safely be used by diabetics to satisfy their sweet tooth. But the benefits don’t stop there… Stevia works as a good antiseptic, mouthwash, it improves digestion, and strengthens the cardiovascular system.

Only recently we discovered this natural secret that the FDA has been hiding from us for years. In fact, I was amazed to learn that stevia was removed from the market at almost the same time as aspartame entered the marketplace. Moreover, you can probably already guess what happened there. Further, a lot of money from the artificial sweetener industry, backed up by companies such as Monsanto and Pfizer, was spent to give stevia a bad name.

Stevia can be found in the supplement section of your store. Most of the stevia you’ll come across is powdered or a liquid extract. The sweetness comes from 2 compounds isolated in those extracts, stevioside, and rebaudioside. Stevioside is the most prevalent glycoside in stevia. Some say it has bitter, metallic aftertaste. Some brands only extract rebaudioside or mixtures with less stevioside.

So if you ever tried stevia or are about to give it a go, consider using different brands until you find one that tastes good for you. Always opt for a minimum of additives or simply use the fresh leaves instead.

2. Lo Han Guo or Monk Fruit

Lo Han Guo is another natural sweetener quite similar to stevia, but more expensive and harder to find. It is extracted out of the sweet, melon-like fruit and about 200 times sweeter than sugar and has been used for centuries in China. It’s low in calories and ideal for diabetics.

3. Raw Honey

Honey has many medicinal benefits. Due to its strong antimicrobial properties, it is often used to fight respiratory infection, wound healing, and stomach ulcers.

Always opt for raw, unrefined honey (Manuka honey is 100% raw, and GMO and antibiotic free), which is rich in pollen and healthy nutrients. It is jam packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Although honey has more calories than normal sugar, you’ll use less because it is up to 50 % sweeter than the normal stuff. But let’s keep in mind that honey contains high levels of fructose and should, like any other sweetener, be used in moderation..Refined fructose turns the body’s appetite control system off, activates enzymes to store fat, and can over time lead to insulin resistance. So again, always opt for raw unprocessed or unrefined honey. Those may come at a higher cost but your health is worth so much more.

4. Agave Syrup

Agave syrup or nectar is derived from a succulent plant, native to South and Central-America. Actually, it is the same plant where tequila is made from. Agave nectar or syrup can best be compared with honey. It contains quite a lot of calories, but it’s about 35% sweeter and you’ll use less. But just as honey, agave syrup contains mostly fructose and should be used in moderation.

And… be careful when purchasing agave syrup or nectar, as most of them are nothing more than a super condensed fructose syrup made in a factory and have nothing to do with the agave plant.

ALSO READ: Is Coconut Palm Sugar A Healthy Sugar Substitute?

Stevia, Ho Lan Guo, and dextrose are the best and safest sugar alternatives on earth. Xylitol may be your choice if you struggle to keep your blood sugar levels steady. Honey and agave syrup contain many wonderful health benefits, but unfortunately, they also contain a lot of fructose and therefore should be used in moderation, but still a far better alternative than normal sugar or artificial sweeteners.