Top 5 Natural Alternatives to Sugar

There is a belief that sugar is essential for the brain functioning. Therefore, in the morning, you definitely need to pump yourself up with coffee or tea with three tablespoons of sugar or fuel yourself with a candy. And if salt in small quantities is really necessary for the body, then sugar is not.

In fact, we need glucose, which can be obtained from slow carbohydrates. To help the brain work productively, it is better to eat brown rice, apples, cereals, wholemeal products, and vegetables. It is these foods that help maintain stable blood glucose levels. Fast carbohydrates, on the contrary, provoke abrupt blood sugar fluctuations in combination with a feeling of hunger. So how can we replace pure sugar and gain more nutrients?

Stevia

If you like the specific flavor of stevia or the stevioside derived from it, this natural substitute can be used to substitute sugar anywhere. Stevia is not only beneficial for diabetes, it is lower in calories than sugar, does not harm your teeth and dental implants and has a number of benefits. It is the absolute leader in low calorie content. Stevia is in great demand among those who are losing weight. Also it is 25 times sweeter than sugar, so you can add very little of it.

Agave syrup

It has a pleasant and mild taste which reminds honey. Such a substitute consists of glucose, fructose and inulin. Among other things, the syrup contains a lot of calcium and iron.

Agave syrup is several times sweeter than sugar, so it can be used extremely sparingly. It can be added to a variety of desserts and pastry, as well as included in any recipe. It is necessary to eat syrup in moderation. People suffering from liver and gallbladder diseases should better refuse such a sweet product.

Coconut sugar

This type of sugar is made from the nectar of coconut blossoms. Coconut syrup tastes less sweet than traditional sweeteners. It is produced in the form of syrup, or crystals. Such a substitute contains zinc, iron and magnesium due to the absence of deep processing.

Coconut syrup smoothly raises blood sugar and also promotes the production of the hormone glucagon in the body. This hormone helps the body burn fat and significantly improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

Grape sugar

Grape sugar is confidently making its way to the top to replace regular sugar and is appreciated for its life prolonging features. It is a colorless thick liquid that does not have a pronounced odor. Its taste is not as strong as that of the usual refined sugar, the sweetness is felt weaker by about a third.

The main characteristic of the product is its hypoallergenicity. Grape sugar contains many valuable trace elements and the natural antioxidant flavonol quercetin. Still, glucose is the main sweetening component of such a substitute. Glucose negatively affects tooth enamel, provoking the multiplication of bacteria on its surface.

Honey

No one will deny the benefits of natural honey. It is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Honey is effective in treating colds and helps to strengthen the immune system. But this product is not always useful. Honey can enrich the human body with all useful trace elements only when it’s raw.

Heating violates all the benefits of natural honey. Therefore, if you want to replace sugar with it, try not to heat it. Add honey to fresh salads, cereals and smoothies. Also, you may make a paste together with grinded nuts, dates, dried apricots, prunes and raisins. A tablespoon of such a paste in the morning will boost your metabolism and fill you with energy much better than any candy.