Sugar is a common ingredient being used on a daily basis.
Virtually everything we consume contains sugar. Even raw agricultural produce contain natural sugar in various degrees.
Sugar is widely used in baking. Some people go as far as using sugar to cook.
The commonly used sugar known as table sugar is extracted from the roots of sugar beets and the stalks of sugarcane after undergoing processes like undergoes some processes like filtration, purification, crystallization, centrifuging and drying.
Yes! Sugar is sweet but it has been medically proven that too much of sugar is not good for the body.
Too much consumption of sugar causes a lot of health diseases.
The good news is that there are natural substitutes for sugar that we can use in our diets.
Below are the best and perfect 5 substitutes you should know.
1) HONEY
Honey is produced mainly from bees and other related insects like aphids through extraction, settling or straining without heating at all.
Honey contains some amounts of vitamins and minerals, as well as abundance of antioxidants.
Taking honey help raise the levels of antioxidants in the blood and high levels of antioxidants in the blood are linked to lower risk of disease.
Read More About The Effects of Sugar body and the health benefits of honey.
2) STEVIA
Stevia is a natural sweetener being extracted from the leaves of a shrub botanically known as Stevia rebaudiana.
Stevia is primarily grown in Brazil and Paraguay but has been widely extended to China, Japan and many countries.
The plant can even be purchased at gardens.
Stevia has been known to taste about 300 times sweeter than table sugar. Stevia contains zero calories and poses no health challenge when used in moderation.
3) YACON SYRUP
Yacon syrup is extracted from the yacón plant botanically known as Smallanthus sonchifolius. It is a native plant in South America.
Yacon syrup contains one-third of the calories of table sugar.
Yacon syrup is safe to use but taking large amounts of it may lead to excess gas, diarrhea or general digestive discomfort.
Also, one cannot cook or bake with bacon syrup but can be used sweeten coffee, tea, oatmeal and even be added it to salad dressings.
Yacon syrup can’t be used to cook nor bake because high temperatures break down the structure of the fructooligosaccharides in it.
4) MAPLE SYRUP
Maple syrup is a thick, sugary liquid made from cooking the sap of maple trees (Acer saccharum).
It contains minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, zinc and manganese and different types of antioxidants.
It has a slightly lower glycemic index than table sugar.
Maple syrup can be used in baking.
Maple syrup is a better option than table sugar but should still be consumed in moderation.
5) DATE PASTE
Dates are very loaded with soluble fiber.
Date paste is the most perfect sugar substitute and natural sweetener that can be easily made at home.
How to prepare date paste:
1) Pit your dates. You can decide to soak in water for a while.
2) Blend in a blender or food processor until smooth!
3) Store the date paste in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks and use it in your favorite healthy recipes.
Lovely yes and for us who want to loose belly fats sugar is bad. Keep this up lovely works here
Exactly sis.
You are very right.
Thank you for stopping by.
Nice one colleague.
Thank you dear colleague.
Glad to have you here.
Wow!
awesome.
I will definitely try that date.
Thanks for the insightful post.
Yes 🤜.
Try date sis and you’ll surely enjoy it.
Thanks for stopping by ma.
Thank you so much for this. Came at the right time! 🌹
Wow!
Glory 🙌.
I’m glad it came at the right time.
Thanks for stopping by sis.
Good one Lizzy. However, do we boycott the high economic realities of the alternatives to sugar. Of course, anything that naturally promotes health cannot be termed as expensive. But in view of the larger population, and the stark difference in the purchasing power of individuals; how do we ensure availability, accessibility, and affordability? Thanks
Thanks for stopping by Samuel.
The first thing that needs to be done is creating awareness about the fact that there are alternatives to sugar.
A larger percentage of Nigeria populace might not know that there is what we call Stevia or Yacon syrup whereas we have these products (maybe in limited in some big supermarkets in Nigeria.
So, when there is the awareness and the demand is high, it will make the availability easy.
Also, honey and dates can be widely found and produced in Nigeria. I believe people should also go into production in order to help with the accessibility, availability and affordability.
Great!!, Insightful. Keep up the good work ma.🙏
Thank you so much sis.
Thanks for stopping by ma.
This is enlightening. I would love to try the maple syrup and the date. Thanks for sharing sis! More ink to your pen.
Awww!
That’s so good to hear ma.
I will be glad to hear your review after using them.
Thank you for stopping by ma.
Wow
Glad you wrote about this ma
Well, I sell Date Syrups in shikinni price
And I have a natural alternative to caffeinated coffee too, Dates Coffee
You can patronise me