Healthier sugar alternatives to try
Sugar plays an important role in our lives. Many of us are not able to imagine drinking a cup of coffee without sugar. Fortunately, there is a wide variety of alternatives, so you can give it a try and use them for sweetening your tea or baking a cake.
There is no doubt that white sugar is a killer. However, cane sugar does not seem to be the optimal alternative either. Nevertheless, there are other options available.
Since it occurs very often that we are confused about all those types of sugar, let us make it clear now. Sucrose is the scientific name for table sugar. It is extracted and refined from either sugarcane or sugar beet. Glucose is grape sugar found in honey and fruits and maltose is malt sugar.
THE BEST NATURAL SWEETENERS
Not only does fruit contain fructose, but it is also rich in fibre and micronutrients. Dates are considered to be one of the most nutritious fruits. They are even more suitable for sweetening rather than for direct consumption. All you have to do is soak them in water, mix them and use them for sweetening desserts or for baking.
SYRUPS
There is a large choice of syrups on the market. In what do they differ?
Agave syrup, also known as agave nectar, is a natural sweetener. It contains a considerably high concentration of fructose. However, it is a healthier variant than artificial sweeteners. Since it is low on the glycemic index, glucose is released slowly and steadily into the bloodstream.
Rice syrup is known for its pleasant neutral taste. It is suitable for porridge, yoghurts or desserts.
Maple syrup is derived from the concentration of maple tree sap. It mainly contains water and sucrose, has a typical and irreplaceable taste and is used for pancakes, waffles or crepes.
Date syrup is made of fresh and overripe dates. It is known for its dark colour, the consistency of honey and the excessively sweet taste.
Corn syrup is made from the starch of corn. It is considerably runny.
Chicory syrup is made from chicory roots. It is remarkable for the high fibre and a low glycemic index. It does not contain any preservatives, gluten or lactose. In addition, diabetics can consume it too.
STEVIA
Stevia has achieved tremendous popularity in the past couple of years. It has a positive impact on our health, contains zero calories, glucose is revealed gradually and does not cause tooth decay like other sweeteners. It even kills a wide range of bacterias and supports the pancreas and its function. Moreover, it is suitable for a strict diet and for diabetics.
