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Healthier Sugar Substitutes You May Not Know
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When your blood sugar level is too high and over a period of time, you become diabetic. This is caused by not only consuming regular sugar, but other sugar-like substances, such as fructose, corn syrup, honey and others. Diabetes is a very serious disease, which can lead to kidney problems, eye damage, obesity and other serious ailments.
Thankfully, there are other ways to sweeten foods and drinks that don’t contribute to diabetes or obesity. The best five of these that are natural (not artificial) are listed below.
When your blood sugar level is too high and over a period of time, you become diabetic. This is caused by not only consuming regular sugar, but other sugar-like substances, such as fructose, corn syrup, honey and others. Diabetes is a very serious disease, which can lead to kidney problems, eye damage, obesity and other serious ailments.
Thankfully, there are other ways to sweeten foods and drinks that don’t contribute to diabetes or obesity. The best five of these that are natural (not artificial) are listed below.
Stevia
Stevia is a plant used for sweetness and medicinal purposes for centuries in South America. The sweet compounds found in stevia leaves are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, gram for gram. Therefore, you need very little of it to sweeten foods and drinks. It has almost no calories, but more importantly it does not raise your blood sugar levels. Therefore, the regular use of Stevia, instead of sugar(s), can help prevent or mitigate diabetes. There is also evidence it might reduce high blood pressure.
Erythritol
This is a natural sugar alcohol, but the powdered version available to buy is a commercially processed product. Erythritol tastes very much like sugar,
and it doesn’t spike your blood sugar or insulin levels, nor does it affect levels of blood fats like cholesterol or triglycerides. While better tolerated than other kinds of sugar alcohols, it can cause digestive issues – if you consume too much at a time, or especially if it’s combined with other types of sugar like fructose.
Xylitol
This is another sugar alcohol with a sweetness similar to that of regular sugar. Like the other healthy sugar substitutes, it doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin levels. There is also some evidence that it may also improve bone density, helping prevent osteoporosis. However, it can cause digestive side effects, including abdominal gas and diarrhea. Because of this, it’s best to use xylitol in moderation.
Yacon Syrup
This is another natural sweetener made from a plant in South America. Besides being better for your blood sugar and insulin levels, it also is very high in soluble fiber. Yacon syrup should be used only in small to moderate amounts.
Monk Fruit Sweetener
This natural sweetener comes from the Monk Fruit, grown in Southeast Asia. It has almost no calories or carbohydrates, and therefore should help keep healthy blood sugar levels. Some studies have also shown it can help fight inflammation. Be careful when buying this, because many products are combined with sugar or other sweeteners, which could negate its health benefits.
