Healthy Substitutes of Sugar To Add in Your Diet

Sugar has gotten a lot of bad rap these days, so there are now many sugar alternatives offered in the market. Unfortunately, sugar is difficult to avoid because it is present in so many foods and drink items from juices, desserts, processed foods, and the like. Even basic rice and bread have amounts of sugar in them.

Not all sugar is created equal. There are more complex sugars that are healthier than processed ones. For instance, black rice is a lot more nutritious than white polished rice that has higher sugar content. The older we become, the more conscious we should be about what we put in our mouths.

* Stevia

Stevia is a sweetener that comes from an herb. It is considered non-nutritive, meaning that it adds zero calories to your diet. Additionally, stevia is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. This means that just a tiny amount of stevia can go a long way in sweetening foods.

* Agave Syrup

Agave syrup is produced from a specific species of cactus and has a similar texture to honey. Because it is higher in fructose than table sugar, it is less likely to cause your blood sugar to spike.

* Aspartame

Aspartame was one of the first artificial sweeteners to be approved by the Food and Drug Association, gaining its approval in 1981. Since that time aspartame (sold as NutraSweet and Equal) has been added to soft drinks, yogurt, gum, and other products. In moderation, aspartame is thought to be a healthy sugar substitute (Betsch, n.d.). However, people with the condition phenylketonuria should avoid aspartame.

* Saccharin

Saccharin, sold as Sweet N Low, is commonly added to drinks, candy, and certain canned goods. Although early studies showed that saccharin increased bladder cancer rates in rats (Betsch, n.d.), no evidence suggests that this sugar substitute is unhealthy for humans.

* Sucralose

Sucralose, also known as Splenda, contains zero calories per serving. This means that it makes an acceptable artificial sweetener for people trying to maintain their weight. Unlike some other artificial sweeteners, sucralose is not heat sensitive (Betsch, n.d.). This makes it an excellent baking substitute. Sucralose is also found in canned fruit, syrups, and fruit drinks.