Nature's Best Alternative Sweeteners

Sugar has become a constant companion in most of our lives and is difficult to completely remove from our diets. With the ever increasing levels of obesity, coupled with a greater understanding of just how sugar can wreak havoc on our health, it is wise to examine healthier options. The problem is that most of sugar substitutes are synthetics and may be worse for you  than sugar!  

Sugar itself has been linked with numerous health problems ranging from obesity to tooth decay.  

In the UK, the love affair with sugar began back in the 16th century when it appeared on our shores for the first time. Back then sugar was a luxury item, enjoyed only by the elite. Today, it is everywhere with the average Brit consuming a shocking 1.25lbs a sugar a week!

Americans consume even more sugar, on average, 22 teaspoon of sugar a day , which is double the recommended daily maximum.

6 Healthy Sugar Alternatives

1. Stevia - A herb native to South American, stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar. It has been used as a sweetener for centuries in South America, and in Japan, makes up 41% of the sweetener market. So widespread is its use, before Coca Cola decided to ‘standardise’ the recipe, stevia was used in Japanese Diet Coke. Stevia has no calories and no glycemic impact, making it suitable for diabetics as well as weight watchers. 

2. Coconut Palm Sugar  - Sap from the coconut palm is heated to evaporate its water content and reduce it to usable granules. Coconut sugar is nutritious and has a low score on the glycemic index. It tastes similar to brown sugar but is slightly richer. You can substitute coconut sugar for traditional sugar. Once tapped for sap, the trees can go on producing for 20 years and produce more sugar per acre than sugar cane and benefit the local soil.

3. Raw Honey - Raw honey is used by many cultures as a remedy for many health ailments including ulcers, digestion problems and even seasonal allergies. Studies have shown raw honey to have antibiotic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. Many people use honey topically on cuts and scrapes to help fight infection. With antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, carbohydrates, and phytonutrients, raw, unprocessed honey is considered a superfood by many alternative health care practitioners and a remedy for many health ailments. Choose your honey wisely. There is nothing beneficial about processed honey.

4. Molasses - These are by-products of the sugar production process. Although producing sugar from sugar cane has a negative environmental impact, not using all the products only compounds it. Because of the way traditional tabletop sugar is produced (heating the top layer which forms the crystals you have in your bowl), many of the nutritional benefits are left in the molasses. Blackstrap molasses is perhaps the most beneficial and is a good source of iron and calcium. It’s quite thick and viscous and is best used in baking. It is also sweeter than sugar and so you’ll need less.

5. Artichoke Syrup  - Artichoke syrup is rich in inulin, a type of fiber that feeds the friendly flora of the intestinal tract. It has an exceptional sweet taste and a very low glycemic index, making it a great sweetener for people with candida-conscious diets and diabetic blood sugar awareness. Research indicates that the inulin found in artichoke syrup may improve gastrointestinal health and calcium absorption.

6. Lucuma Powder - Lucuma has a uniquely sweet, fragrant and subtly maple-like taste that will bring your desserts to life without making your blood sugar levels skyrocket. Lucuma is an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Lucuma contains high concentrations of beta-carotene, which makes lucuma a powerful immune system booster, and it is rich in iron, B2 and B1.

Its low sugar content makes it a healthy alternative to sugar for people who have diabetes and it is a great sweetener for women who are breastfeeding.

As with all sweeteners, use in moderation. By no means do natural sweeteners give us license to spoil a sweet tooth rotten, but they’re an improvement over sugar.  

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