Sugar is an ingredient found in many packaged foods and soda. The average child consumes 32 teaspoons of sugar a day! For most people sugar is part of their everyday diet. But sugar can ruin your body, health and teeth.
By decreasing your intake you also decrease your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and you can prevent weight gain. There are many alternative sweeteners out there, but many of them are not created equal.
All artificial sweeteners — like aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium and saccharin — should be eliminated due to evidence linking these sweeteners to a possible increased risk of cancer.
Natural sweeteners can be a better solution for the sweet tooth cravings.
Here are our top natural sweeteners:
Molasses
Molasses is the thick residue of refining of sugar cane into white sugar. Molasses is the most nutrient rich of all sweeteners, because it provides a significant amount of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B6.
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is better for you than pancake syrup. Regular maple syrup that is in pancake houses is loaded with high fructose corn syrup and caramel coloring which means it is not natural, real maple syrup is made by boiling the sap of maple trees into a concentrated and sweet syrup.
Maple syrup is more than just a topper for French toast and waffles; it is a delicious sweetener for many dishes. Use it instead of refined sugar. Maple syrup has small amounts of calcium and zinc in it which means it is essential for helping you derive energy from the food you eat.
Dates
Dates are a fruit that naturally taste very sweet and therefore you can sweeten desserts. Dates contain vitamin B6, vitamin A, potassium and calcium. Popular recipes include dates in puddings, health bars and yummy date balls with nuts and coconut.
Honey
Honey is a great substitute in yogurt, oatmeal and desserts. Note that the darker honeys always have higher antioxidant power. It’s best to use raw or unprocessed honey for higher nutrient and antioxidant content.
Doctor Randy Morgan, a dentist in Newberg Oregon says to “Use honey instead of refined sugar in all your favorite recipes. It can improve your health and smile.”
~Written by Shannon Kaiser
Photo thinkstock.com
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