The Best Sugar Alternatives: An Infographic

We all know it’s bad for us. So what are the best sugar alternatives? There are plenty, actually!

By Chere Di Boscio

We’ve written about how sugar can seriously ruin your health. From diabetes and obesity to creating cavities and wrinkles, there’s basically nothing good about too much sugar consumption. And it’s easy to over-consume without knowing it: did you know that it’s recommended that women intake only 6 teaspoons of sugar a day, but that’s only about 1/3 a tin of Coke!

Given all the hidden sugars in everything from bread and tomato sauce to soups and sushi, it’s no wonder the average woman consumes around 22 teaspoons per day, and this figure (and our figures!) is growing.

The Bad News

Unfortunately, to keep expanding waistlines in check, many of us turn to artificial chemical sweeteners like NutraSweet and Truvia. These have both been associated not only with serious health risks including cancer, but also ultimately, with further weight gain.

Furthermore, Sucralose (aka Splenda) is processed with potentially harmful chemicals, and doesn’t break down in the water treatment cycle. This means it is ‘recycled’ back into the food chain. YUCK! No one really knows the long term effects of this.

There are more natural, alternative sweeteners that have become trendy, such as agave syrup and honey, but are these really much better? Both still have quite a high glycemic index (GI), which can spike your blood sugar. These spikes can lead to insulin imbalances and resistance, which can culminate in diabetes, weight gain, candida (yeast) growth and mood imbalances, according to Health Perch.

But don’t worry: there are some great sugar alternatives out there, too!

The Good News

For us, at the top of our list of great sugar alternatives is Stevia. We’ve raved  about how pure Stevia is an excellent sugar alternative in the past. But not everyone loves the slightly anise flavour that accompanies it. Also, it’s not always great for cooking with.

It’s not on the infographic below, but lucuma is trendy sugar substitute these days. It’s available in good health food shops, or online. This low-glycemic sweetener contains many nutrients including beta-carotene,  iron, zinc, vitamin B3, calcium and protein. Yellow lucuma powder has a unique, maple-like taste that’s a delight in a variety of recipes. It has about 20 calories per teaspoon.

One of our favourite sugar alternatives is this one by MUD\WTR. It’s two parts coconut sugar, one part lucuma. And it has fabulous butterscotch and caramel undertones, and is packed with antioxidants. It deals with heat like a dream, meaning it’s easy to cook with, too.

Xylitol is another low-cal sugar alternative we like. Popular in gum and candy, it has been known to kill plaque and fight cavities. Wow, right? It has also been proven to actually help rebuild eroded tooth enamel. Xylitol has other great benefits as well. It has a lower calorie count than sugar and when digested, it doesn’t t raise your blood sugar the way sugar does. As with Stevia, it’s good for those on anti-candida diets. But in addition to that, it is the only sweetener that actually fights candida and kills yeast infections.

However, Xylitol is also unsafe for cats and dogs, so please be careful when using this around your pets!

The Bottom Line

Stevia and Xylitol amongst the best sugar alternatives for sure. They have next-to-zero calories and bring plenty of health benefits, too.

But what’s the best bet for sweetening your food up a bit? Or for baking? It’s quite a personal choice. You may love that Stevia and Xylitol are low in calories, but they’re hard to cook with. You may love the stickiness afforded by date or coconut sugar in your brownies, but you may shun the cavity potential, so try a lucuma based alternative instead.

For  those whose sweet tooth is deeply entrenched, here is an infographic that explains and which sugar alternatives are out there and compares their benefits.

The Best Sugar Alternatives: An Infographic

The Best Sugar Alternatives: An Infographic

Chere Di Boscio
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