It seems that everywhere we turn there is a new study proving that an excess of refined sugar is the root cause of many of our most devastating health problems. In the short term it can zap our energy, cause unwanted weight gain and premature aging. In the long term it can lead to diabetes, fatty liver and even cancer.
Unfortunately replacing these sugars with artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols isn’t the best option. Although they haven’t been around long enough to definitively assess the long term damage, there is enough anecdotal evidence that they cause GI distress, nervous system damage and over eating that I choose to steer clear of them altogether.
This can make you feel defeated and frustrated – as if everything that tastes good is bad for you! However, I find in my practice that when you replace these refined sugars with their natural counterparts it causes a taste-bud reset. What I mean by that is you enjoy the sweetness but are satisfied by less. It is important to note that even the most natural form of sugar is still sugar. So as with anything, moderation is the key!
Here are my top 5 natural sweeteners:
Blackstrap Molasses
Blackstrap molasses is one of the most nutrient dense of the natural sweeteners. This means that it not only contains a sweet flavor but is also high in B6, manganese, potassium and iron.
How to use:
Blackstrap molasses has a rich texture and flavor, which I believe lends itself best to using in marinades or baking. Try using it as a substitute for brown sugar in recipes.
Dates
Dates are a whole food, which means they maintain their fiber. Fiber helps with digestive heath and balances blood sugar which improves mood and helps with weight loss. They also contain iron, magnesium and selenium.
How to use:
Dates can be used with baking but my favorite use of dates is adding them to smoothies for an added sweetness and fiber.
Raw Honey
Local raw honey not only provides a delicious sweetness but also many health benefits. It can help alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms, boost your immune system and improve athletic performance.
How to use:
Honey is a great addition to your post workout meals or as a sweetener for herbal teas.
Stevia
Stevia is a plant native to South America. It is a zero-calorie sweetener that does not have an impact on your blood sugar. This makes it ideal for those with blood sugar issues. The tricky thing about stevia is a lot of the popular brands on the market have a very processed version of stevia as well as other added sweeteners. For this reason it is important to really look at the ingredient list and make sure it says “whole leaf stevia” rather than Reb A or stevia extract.
How to use:
I find that stevia is best when added as a sweetener to drinks. The whole leaf stevia is about 30x as sweet as sugar so remember, a little goes a long way!
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup has a high level of anti-oxidant activity, which helps protect cell damage from free radicals and prevent premature aging. This is whey maple syrup will often be found in homemade skincare products. However, those anti-oxidants also help prevent inflammation and other triggers for disease so eating it with breakfast will be just as beneficial as rubbing it all over your face! As with stevia, there are a lot of fillers when it comes to maple syrup. Be sure to look at the ingredient list and make sure it says “pure maple syrup” rather than cane sugar or HFCS.
How to use:
There are two grades of maple syrups: A & B. Grade A maple syrup is typically lighter and best used to drizzle on top of things or use as a sweetener in drinks. Grade B is darker and denser in taste (and anti-oxidants) and best used in baking and cooking.
This article was written by Tara Coleman and first appeared on totalgymdirect.com.
