Best Natural Sweeteners

By Helena Reimer  

Granulated sugar is the most popular sweetener that is around. But studies are coming out that show how dangerous it is to the overall health of the body. Therefore many new sweeteners have been developed and are starting to become popular. There are many unhealthy, zero calorie sweeteners, but there are also many natural sweeteners, that are much healthier in moderation.

Honey

Honey has been used to sweeten things long before sugar and other sweeteners came on the scene. Honey is naturally made by bees from the nectar they collect from different flowers. It is available raw as well as pasteurized.

The sweetness of honey is about the same as sugar. However, honey is natural, and therefore it is a better choice for healthy living. It is mainly made up of sugars, but it also contains small amounts of healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help the body to build a strong immune system so that it can fight off disease.

Honey can be used in baking, desserts and many drinks such as coffee, tea and milk.

Stevia

Stevia is produced from an herbal plant. It is available in dry powder form or in a liquid extract. It is said to be 200 to 300 times sweeter than regular table sugar. Thus the amount needed for sweetening is very little. It is great for using in smoothies, tea, coffee, cereals and anywhere that sugar is normally used.

The great thing about stevia is that it can help to reduce food cravings for sweets and foods high in unhealthy fats. Therefore it is great for those who are trying to lose weight. Stevia is also great for those who suffer from diabetes as it does not spike the blood sugar levels.

The only downfall of stevia is the mild aftertaste that it produces.

Agave

Agave is harvested from the agave plants that are naturally grown in Mexico. The sap is harvested and heated at low temperatures to break down the sugars. This ensures that the enzymes are kept alive, and thus it is considered natural and can be consumed safely in moderation.

The agave nectar contains the same amount of calories per tsp. as does sugar, but, agave can be up to three times as sweet as sugar. Thus the amount that is needed is far less.

However, the sweetener is high in fructose, which may not be suitable for some. But nevertheless, it is great for those who suffer from diabetes as it does not spike the sugar levels.

For more information on how to prevent disease and live a long and healthy life, visit LivingFood101. You can also find me on Hubpages

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Sweeteners

by Ms H 

Most of us like sweets however, too much of these appetising stuff can lead to problems such as tooth decay, obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Here is the list of the most common sources of sugar found on food labels: brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, fruit-juice concentrate, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), honey, invert sugar, lactose, maltose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose and syrup.

Sugar provides 4 kcal / g energy when it is consumed. However, sweeteners called sugar alcohols or polyols contain 2 kcal/g energy. Foods that contain sugar alcohols can be labelled sugar-free because they replace full-calorie sugar sweeteners.  They have been used for decades to sweeten chewing gum, candy, fruit spreads, toothpaste, cough syrup, and other products. There are easy and cheap ways to make sugar alcohols from corn, wood, and other plant materials, along with their sugar-like taste. List of polyols: sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomalt, lactitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates and maltitol.  The reason that sugar alcohols provide fewer calories than sugar is because they are not completely absorbed in your body. For this reason, high intakes of foods containing some sugar alcohols can lead to abdominal gas and diarrhea. For your heath you should control the amount of foods containing sugar alcohols.

Stevia is a non-caloric sweetener made from the leaves of a shrub that grows in South and Central America, so it is a natural low-caloric sweetener. Stevia is about 300 times sweeter than sugar.

Artificial sweeteners are far sweeter than regular sugar: aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, neotame, advantame and acesulfame-K. One concern about artificial sweeteners is that they affect the body’s ability to evaluate how many calories are being consumed. Some studies show that sugar and artificial sweeteners affect the brain in different ways. The human brain responds to sweetness with signals to eat more, leading to rise your energy intake and can contribute to the risk of obesity.

Sweeteners are really useful alternatives for people with diabetes. They also prevent tooth decay and control blood sugar level.

Sweeteners may be safe, but are they truly healthy?