Looking for sugar substitutes? Look no further than these five natural sugar substitutes which are packed full of nutrients and will help you give refined sugar the elbow!
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You probably have realized that refined sugar is bad for your health. It can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancers, and many other highly undesirable health related conditions. Making it worse, refined sugar has absolutely zero nutritional value.
The importance of sugar in our lives cannot be underestimated. Not only does it give us energy, but it's also food for the brain. Unfortunately, refined sugar is full of ‘’empty calories’’ which do more harm than good. Replacing your refined sugar intake with one or more of these awesome natural sugar substitutes is way of replacing the nasty stuff and reaping the nutritional benefits you can get from these naturally occurring sugars.
HONEY
Honey is one of the most popular sugar substitutes there is. Even better, it's chock full of nutrients. This superfood deserves a special place in your diet. Honey can be used in almost every circumstance imaginable and comes in a wide variety of flavors, just be sure it’s all natural.
The Benefits Of Honey
It’s a great remedy for coughs, colds and sore throats
It can be used to treat wounds and burns
Its antioxidants and flavonoid properties reduce the risk of certain cancers
It gives you healthy glowing skin
It helps prevent memory loss
MAPLE SYRUP
Maple syrup is mostly used when cooking. It has a distinctive flavor, and can be a great addition to cooking for this very reason. For a start, you can use it on your pancakes! It can come in a variety of colours from light to dark, which determines its flavor strength. Dark usually being the strongest in taste.
Unlike refined sugar, maple syrup comes with a lot of nutritional benefits. In one study, scientists found 24 different antioxidants in it!
The Benefits Of Maple Syrup
Rich in antioxidants
It helps boost metabolism
Its zinc content and other antioxidant properties help boost the immune system
Improves digestion
It protects the skin through helping fight inflammatory diseases
DATE SUGAR
Pulverized dry dates turn into a powder which makes a great sugar substitute. This is what is referred to as date sugar. This sugar supplies your body with calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc (to name a few). The Middle Eastern region is packed with dates so no excuses.
The Benefits Of Date Sugar
It reduces intestinal problems as it promotes the growth of good bacteria
It's good for circulation and its high magnesium levels help prevent cramps
Helps prevent constipation
Low in calories
COCONUT SUGAR
Are coconuts really healthy or is it just hype? The facts are that they contain some of the most important nutrients required by the body. On the glycemic index, coconut sugar stands at 35 while standard sugar is between 60 – 75.
The Benefits Of Coconut Sugar
It can help lower high blood pressure
It makes bones and teeth stronger
It regulates enzyme activity
It’s earth friendly
It has a low Glycemic Index number
STEVIA
Stevia comes from the leaves of the warm climate plant Stevia rebaudiana. It is all natural, contains no carbs or calories and doesn’t raise blood sugar levels. That is one serious sugar substitute!
The Benefits Of Stevia
It helps lower blood pressure
It can help fight diabetes due to its amazing Glycemic Index properties
It has anti-inflammatory properties
It is calorie free
It is rich in iron which stimulates the production of Hemoglobin in the body, the oxygen carrying component of red blood cells
Article provided by: Nutrition Souq