Five Substitutes For Sugar In Your Meal

One universal fact about sugar is that it is sweet, and everyone likes sweet things. Sugar is a sweet tasting, soluble carbohydrate which is usually added to food.
The type of sugar in candy and most sugary drinks is, added sugar. This form of sugar is added to food and beverages to help enhance flavor, texture and colour. Added sugar has no nutritional value despite adding calories to your body.

Natural sugars on the other hand can be found naturally in foods like fruits, nuts and milk.
Of the two, added sugars are more harmful in the end as it is a major cause of obesity and many chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure, amongst others.

Doctors all over the world recommend reduction of sugar intake for health reasons. Here are a few safer options that you can substitute with added sugar in your meal:

DATE SUGAR

Date sugar is made of granulated dried dates. Date sugar is high in fiber, disease-fighting antioxidants and they can help with blood sugar regulation. The best part is it is an excellent natural sweetener, which makes it a good substitute for sugar.

HONEY

Honey is the oldest and most recognized substitute for sugar. Raw honey (honey that has not been heated, pasteurized, clarified or filtered in any way) is a great antibiotic, has lower glycemic index (which means it is less likely to raise blood sugar levels… yay!) and other properties that make it one of the best alternatives to sugar.

COCONUT SUGAR

Coconut sugar is the dehydrated sap of the coconut palm. Coconut sugar has a low glycemic index, is rich in minerals, nitrogen, vitamin c, raw antioxidants and inulin; a type of dietary fiber that helps keep your gut healthy and balance your blood sugar.

STEVIA

Stevia is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia Rebandiana, a South American shrub. It is 100% natural contains zero calories and can lower blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

MAPLE SYRUP

Maple syrup is made from the fluid or sap of sugar maple trees. It is one of the most natural sources of sugar and it has many antioxidant properties. It has less sugar and less fructose (the sugar compound that can mess with your liver and heart) than honey.

As much as we want to find healthier alternatives to sugar in our meals, use these alternatives sparingly as well. Excessive use of these alternatives is not the ideal way to go

Article credit : Cocci Beauty