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Green smoothies are nutrient-packed, especially once you begin using a variety of different vegetables to pull in a wider spectrum of minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals. Still, unless your palate is becoming accustomed to the diverse flavors of green smoothies, you might prefer to sweeten them up a little with a sugar-alternative. Unfortunately, a diet full of sugar has been proven to lead to diabetes, weight-gain, and all sorts of kinds of disease. A diet full of fructose is not much better either. Here are seven sugar-alternatives to make use of in your smoothies. Many still use fructose, however, so the secret is to use just enough to make it more enjoyable-but much like anything, sweeteners should be utilized in moderation. Honey-Honey is really a natural sugar-alternative, made from bees. As an additional advantage to its sweetness and distinct flavor, it's high in the B-vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants. I suggest you buy your honey local for that added bonus of helping maintain and stop seasonal allergies due to the allergens nearer your home. Find this sugar-alternative at local farmer’s markets, nutrition stores, and some grocery stores. Bee Pollen-Bee Pollen is yet another excellent and delicious natural sugar-alternative. So that as an added bonus to its sweetness, bee pollen has elevated levels of protein and carbohydrates and it has trace minerals and vitamins. Just like local honey, eating this sugar-alternative can certainly help treat seasonal allergies like hay fever, or prevent all of them together. Bee Pollen can be found at the local health food store. Dates-whole, pitted dates really are a delicious and easy sugar-alternative. Just throw several in your smoothie and it enhances the sweetness perfectly. You can also soak on them night and puree these to really bring out the sweetness. Obviously, this sugar-alternative is fructose-based, so make use of a minimal amount to maintain health. Unsweetened Concentrated Grape Juice-Unsweetened Concentrated Grape Juice is of course sweet from the fructose found in the grapes along with a great sugar-alternative. A tablespoon of the sweet sugar-alternative is sufficient in making an environmentally friendly smoothie sweet, without packing excessive levels of fructose in your diet. Agave-Agave is a natural sugar-alternative based on the root of the agave cactus plant. It's considered to be low-glycemic meaning it won’t lift up your blood sugar levels as high as other sweeteners of the higher-glycemic index (such as sugar). Still, it's made mostly of fructose and glucose, so ought to be used in moderation. It is usually found like a liquid and has a mild-flavor too, same goes with not overpower the other flavors of the smoothie. Agave can be found just about anywhere other sugar-alternatives can be purchased. Xylitol-Xylitol is an excellent sugar-alternative. It is naturally found in mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, and also the birch tree. Similarly to some of the other sweeteners here, it's considered to be low-glycemic, so it only mildly raises glucose levels when consumed. As an added bonus to the sweetening capabilities, xylitol prevents cavities and ear infections, promotes weight reduction, and helps strengthen bones and teeth. It is almost always found in powder form at the local health food store. Trying an example or small packet first to ensure that you like the taste before the purchasing a big bag as it costs a lot more than sugar.
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