Almost all people are in love with sweets such as cakes, candies, cookies, and ice cream. However, the food pyramid suggests that these foods should be consumed sparingly as they contain large amounts of sugar and empty calories. Moreover, dieticians and physicians recommend everyone to use as little sugar as possible since sugar is the main culprit for the increasing number of people who suffer from health problems such as obesity and diabetes.

Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent, and astringent are the six tastes the human tongue can perceive. Hence, it would be unnatural and very difficult for us to avoid sweet foods. Luckily, sweetness cannot only be found in sugar and there are other healthier alternatives we can consume without worrying too much about our health.

Stevia

This sugar alternative comes from the leaf of Stevia rebaudiana, a plant that is abundant in South America. It contains vitamin C and minerals such as magnesium and potassium, and although it is 300 times sweeter than sugar, it contains zero calories. Stevia is best used as sweetener for beverages but it is not recommended to be used for baking.

Honey

Another nutritious alternative to sugar is honey. It is best consumed in its unprocessed form since it contains high amounts of vitamins C, D, E, and B complex, along with amino acids and minerals. Unfortunately, when honey is processed it losses almost half of its nutritional content.

Xylitol

Its name sounds like a chemically produced sweetener but actually, xylitol is a natural substance that the human body produces during metabolism. The commercially produced xylitol comes from birch tree and from fibrous fruits and vegetables such as plums, raspberries, and cauliflowers. This sweetener has a taste that is very similar to sugar but it has a very small effect on a person’s insulin levels.

This substance can be used for cooking and baking and as a sweetener for coffee, tea, and other drinks. Xylitol is also used in oral hygiene products like toothpastes and mouthwashes because of its anti-bacterial properties.

Agave

This sweetener is obtained by extracting the juices of the agave plant. Agave contains the healthy complex carbohydrates and it has a lower glycemic index compared to several natural sweeteners in the market. It is not readily absorbed into the bloodstream, making it a suitable choice for people with diabetes. It also contains fairly high amounts of mineral like iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.  Agave can be used for beverages although it is not the best sugar alternative when it comes to baking.

Date Sugar

When it comes to baking, date sugar can be used instead of the common table sugar since their degrees of sweetness are very similar. Aside from this, date sugar is made from finely ground dates and it is not highly processed, which means that most of the vitamins and minerals of the fruit are retained.