There is no surprise that sugar is high in calories, and excessive consumption can result in both- short and long-term health concerns. While it is essential to keep your sugar intake in control, most have a hard time letting go of sweet treats. So what can you do to ensure that sweet flavor in your foods without compromising your health?
Well, the answer is simple- healthy sugar. \The best thing about sweetness is that it can be from several other alternatives. So you can practically pick a suitable, somewhat healthier alternative to substitute sugar. And to help you with that, we have curated a list of some of the best sugar substitutes. Let’s get started!
Contents
First Of All, Why Should You Substitute Your Regular Sugar With Other Sweet Substitutes?
Since sugar is so high in calories, it takes up a toll on the body. This results in the deposition of fat in the body, leading to an increased body fat percentage. Besides that, sugar also leads to diabetes in the long run, and there is no cure or treatment. Sugar is also known to raise the blood sugar level in the body, which hampers the functioning of your heart and blood sugar level. It is associated with life-threatening illnesses such as heart attacks, heart failure, and inflammation in the body organs.
Considering how severe the impact of sugar consumption is, it is always a good practice to check the label of packaged foods, avoid added sugar as much as possible, and substitute sugar with other alternatives in your diet. Let’s find out how!
Healthy Alternatives For Sugar
Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar happens to be one of the most common natural sweeteners for two significant reasons. First and foremost, it is a plant-based, vegan alternative to sugar, and secondly, coconut sugar has a low glycemic index, which makes it much healthier than regular sugar. Coconut sugar also adds a great texture and color to baked food. It induces the feeling of fullness because it is rich in soluble fiber. And due to the same reason, it keeps the stomach, gut, and the overall digestive system happy and healthy.
Monk Fruit Sweetener
Monk fruit is native to Southeast Asia and produces a sweetening ingredient of its own. Monk is naturally rich in glucose and fructose, which add the element of sweetness to it. The best part about monk fruit sweetener is that it is entirely calorie-free. This means that when you add this sweetener to your food, you would not be adding a single calorie. Apart from that, this sweetener is around 100 times sweeter than sugar, making it one of the best substitutes for sugar. However, make sure you read the label to know the other ingredients.
Erythritol
Sugar alcohol can be a great alternative to regular sugar. There are several kinds of sugar alcohols in the market, such as xylitol, glycerol, etc. But compared to all these, erythritol consists of the least amount of calories. So much so that the calorie count is almost negligible. The best part about using erythritol is that it doesn’t raise the blood sugar level and limits the risk of diabetes. Other than that, the small intestine can quickly absorb it and flush it out in the urine in a short period, which makes it easy to digest. It is also 70% as sweet as regular sugar.
Stevia
Stevia is yet another highly recommendable natural and healthy sugar substitute. Not only is it free from calories, but it also contains several nutritional properties. It is approximately 350 times sweeter than sugar. This natural element has several health benefits, as it is full of properties that can control blood sugar levels and insulin levels. This is why people with diabetes should substitute sugar with stevia.
Other Natural Substitutes For Sugar Are
-Xylitol
-Maple Syrup
-Yacon Syrup
-Honey
-Date Sugar
Conclusion
All in all, it is fair to say that there are several different types of sugar substitutes, most of which are readily available in the market. However, before substituting artificial sweeteners or regular sugar with other natural sweeteners, it is always better to seek advice from your nutritionist. Every individual’s body and the digestive system works differently. And only a nutritionist can understand your bodily needs and likewise recommend a suitable sugar substitute.
