Healthy Way to Sweeten

Admit it. Most, if not all, of us want at least more sugar in our coffee and other drinks. Although sugar can make our food and drinks taste good, too much intake can also be detrimental to our health. The following are some healthy sugar alternatives that you can opt for.

1. Agave nectar/syrup. This is derived from a desert-dwelling plant. You can easily find this syrup at supermarkets. They are also best for tea and coffee. They also don’t have much effect on your sugar level. However, they are sweeter than sugar so you have to use less agave for your drinks.

2. Xylitol. This is a natural sweetener and is mostly in chewing gums. It’s a sugar alcohol that can be found in fibers of vegetables and fruits. Xylitol is low in glycemic index and only has a few calories which make it a good sugar substitute for those with diabetes.

3. Maple syrup is a natural sweetener that is a good alternative for refined sugar. It helps in balancing cholesterol and is rich in manganese and zinc. However, it is high in glycemic
index which can be a no-no for diabetics. There’s also the distinct maple syrup taste and flavor that limits use.

4.  Stevia. It is an ideal sugar alternative that is 300 times as sweet as the table sugar but is really low in glycemic index. It also has zero calories and may help in lowering blood sugar levels. This explains why a number of diabetics already prefer this sweetener.

5. Raw honey. Unprocessed honey is rich in amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and carbohydrates. Processed ones, however, are already strip of these needed nutrients. Certain types of honey like orange blossom honey and red clover honey are also low in glycemic index. Make sure that you always check and read the labels and description when shopping.

You don’t need to give up on your sweets just to lead a healthy lifestyle. Just make sure that you consume sugar-rich food moderately and you always check the sugar levels beforehand.