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All of us probably have our cravings for sweet treats. However, we also know that giving in to these sugar-laden foods will bring us no good expect for satisfying our sweet tooth. Good thing there are healthy sugar alternatives that we can use in our desserts and sweet indulgences. However, you should be careful in choosing your sugar substitute because every sweetener offers its own benefits and drawbacks. It will be best to ask your doctor about the best sweetener you should use especially if you have some health issues. Agave Nectar Agave nectar or syrup is obtained from a succulent dessert plant whose botanical origin is similar with that of tequila. Each spoon contains 60 calories, but is 33% sweeter than ordinary sugar. It is also believed to have very low effect on the blood sugar. You can find this in the health food sections of supermarkets. You can use it to sweeten your tea, coffee and other baked goods. Nonetheless, it is loaded with fructose that can cause you to eat more because it cannot shut off the hormones controlling your appetite. Brown Rice Syrup Cooked brown rice can be combined with sprouted barley or rice to produce the brown rice syrup. This sweet liquid has a taste that could vaguely remind you of caramel or butterscotch so it is best to use on baked products. Each teaspoon has roughly 13 calories. Although not as sweet as your table sugar, this syrup takes more time to be broken down, which will give you more time-release energy than sugar. Furthermore, it can produce by-products of zinc, manganese and magnesium. If you are a diabetic, you should still avoid using this syrup due to the glucose content. Erythritol This is what is produced from the break down, fermentation and filtering of corn starch or sugar cane. Before, it is merely used as ingredient of many pre-packed foods. It is now available in powder form created by heating the liquid, allowing water to evaporate until white crystals remain. It is best for people trying to lose weight as it contains low calories. It has no negative effect on the blood sugar; does not cause tooth decay and does not produce upset stomach if taken moderately. However, too much of this (more than 20 teaspoons in one day) could result to diarrhea, bloating and gas. Maple Syrup It definitely has more roles than mere topping for waffles and pancakes. One teaspoon of maple syrup can give 17 calories only. Barely or low-tech processed maple syrup is even a good source of minerals such as zinc and manganese. Yet, it is definitely not an ideal sweetener for diabetics. Stevia It is a plant from South America and is considered by some as a supplement, not a sweetener. It is 300 times sweeter than your ordinary sugar so just a very small amount will be enough to sweeten a drink or food. What is great about stevia is it contains no calories and some evidence show that it is helpful in lowering blood sugar. Some people who tried it reported a bitter aftertaste. Guilt Free Desserts offers many recipes of natural, low GI desserts. Great Taste No Pain is a related product that will teach you how to eat properly to get rid of digestive problems.
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