Our society is becoming more and more aware of the damaging effects of a high sugar diet as new research continues to be published. Side effects of refined sugars include diabetes, tooth decay, obesity, heart disease, bad bacterial overgrowth in the gut, impaired immune function, certain types of cancer, mood swings and even poor cognitive functioning.
The average American consumes approximately 400 calories a day from added sugars. And not only is the consumption of refined sugar on the rise, so are artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose (Splenda), and saccharin have been debated for years in regard to their damaging side effects.
The FDA has deemed these artificial sweeteners “generally recognized as safe,” however, they are coming under more and more criticism because of their negative side effects. These side effects range from headaches and migraines to shrunken thymus glands, impairment of liver and kidney function, and mood disorders.
In the past decade, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been a cheap, popular and readily available sweetener used in countless food products in the United States. Over the last few years, corn growers and affiliated associations have pushed high fructose corn syrup as a natural sweetener. This is not the case, however. The vast majority of HFCS is produced from genetically modified corn.
Fructose is a simple sugar that is rapidly metabolized by the liver, which means it will cause your blood sugar to spike giving you a “sugar high.” This quick-acting sugar is believed to lead to increased storage of fat in the liver, resulting in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, digestive upset and atherosclerosis.
But fortunately for us, there are healthy natural sweeteners and yummy alternatives to refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners!
Top 10 Natural Sweeteners…
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Raw Honey
Raw honey is an ancient superfood, readily available today. It’s packed with enzymes, antioxidants, iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, vitamin B6, riboflavin and niacin. Together, these essential nutrients help to neutralize cell-damaging free radicals, while promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract.
One tablespoon of raw honey has 64 calories and has less impact on glycemic load than a single banana. It’s important to note that these are the benefits of raw honey. Once honey has been pasteurized, it loses many of the health benefits that raw honey brings to the table.
Look for local raw honey at farmer markets and directly from local beekeepers. The darker the honey, the richer the flavor and the greater the health benefits.
How to use raw honey:
First, don’t cook with raw honey. Drizzle it on breakfast cereals, over your sprouted grain toast, on yogurt and for salad dressings. You want to maintain as many of the nutrients in honey as possible, so keep it away from the heat. If you enjoy honey in your tea or coffee, wait until the drink is just tepid enough to sip comfortably, and then add honey to taste.
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Stevia
Stevia is native to South America and has been used for hundreds of years in that region to support healthy blood sugar levels and prompt weight loss.
Today, stevioside, the element in the leaves that makes it more than 200 times as sweet as sugar, is available in liquid drops, packets, dissolvable tablets and baking blends. It has zero calories, zero carbohydrates and none of the nasty side effects of artificial sweeteners, making it an ideal natural sweetener.
Stevia is related to the sunflower, and some people experience a slight metallic aftertaste. If that has been your experience with stevia in the past, try a brand that is higher in the steviosides. Many find it to be sweeter, without a residual aftertaste.
How to use stevia:
Unlike raw honey, stevia is heat stable, so feel free to use it in any way you desire. Remember, it’s 200 times sweeter than sugar, so use less of it. When baking, remember that refined sugar gives bulk to recipes, but Stevia won’t so much. To make up for the lost bulk, use 1/3 to ½ cup of one of the following bulking agents: fresh fruit puree, yogurt, roasted winter squash, two whipped egg whites, or you can use 1–2 tablespoons of coconut flour (add coconut flour slowly, as it absorbs a ton of moisture).
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Dates
Dates are loaded with potassium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium and vitamin B6. Dates come from the date palm tree, and are easily digested and help to metabolize proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Evidence shows that dates may help to reduce LDL cholesterol in the blood and may reduce the risk of stroke.
How to use dates:
You can make a date paste that can be used one-to-one in most recipes, unlike stevia, and it does add bulk for baking. Soak Medjool dates in hot water until soft. Reserve the soaking liquid, as it’s integral to making a good paste! Add the soaked dates to your food processor, along with one tablespoon of the soaking liquid. Blend until smooth; add more water as needed to create a thick rich paste until you reach the consistency of peanut butter. Use in your favorite cookie or cake recipe to cut out refined sugar and boost the nutrients. You can also use date paste to sweeten your favorite muffins and pies.
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Coconut Sugar
Coconut everything is the rave these days, from coconut water, coconut milk, coconut flour and, of course, fresh coconut. Now, more and more people are using coconut sugar as their natural sweetener of choice because of its low glycemic load and rich mineral content. Packed with polyphenols, iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, antioxidants, phosphorous and other phytonutrients, coconut sugar is versatile and now readily available. Coconut sugar is extracted sap from the blooms of the coconut and then heated. Next, through evaporation, we get coconut sugar.
How to use coconut sugar:
Coconut sugar measures just like regular sugar in recipes. It’s a bit coarser than refined sugar, but that is okay. Add the amount of sugar that is called for in a recipe to your food processor and give it a whirl until you get the desired texture. Or you can dissolve the coconut sugar in the liquids called for in the recipe. However, dissolving the sugar is not recommended when making a recipe that calls for “creaming” ingredients together – like for cakes or cookies.
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Maple Syrup
Native to North America, maple syrup comes in both Grades A and B. Maple syrup is an outstanding source of manganese, and contains calcium, potassium, and zinc. Rich with antioxidants, this all-natural sweetener helps to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative damage. Select darker, Grade B maple syrups, as they contain more beneficial antioxidants than the lighter syrups.
How to use maple syrup:
Maple syrup is heat stable, so you can use it in virtually any application. Add it to marinades, glazes, sauces and use for baking. Use it to sweeten homemade granola and your morning coffee or tea.
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Blackstrap Molasses
Organic blackstrap molasses is rich in nutrients, such as copper, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, selenium and vitamin B6. Sugarcane and beet molasses have the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity when compared with refined sugar, beet sugar, raw honey, corn syrup, and dates.
How to use blackstrap molasses:
Molasses has a unique, rich flavor. It may not be appealing for some to use for topping toast, porridges or other concentrated applications. However, it’s a perfect sweetener for marinades and to use in baking. You can even make a brown sugar alternative by adding two tablespoons of molasses for each ½ cup coconut sugar a recipe calls for. Put the coconut sugar and the molasses in a food processor, and pulse until the consistency of commercial brown sugar is reached.
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Balsamic Glaze
Balsamic vinegar is rich in antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, and is rich in the enzyme pepsin that helps to promote healthy digestion.
How to use balsamic glaze:
Balsamic glazes are available in natural health food and gourmet stores, but you can also quickly make your own glaze at home. Simply simmer two cups of balsamic vinegar over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until it’s reduced to one-half cup. This process can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. It will thicken further upon cooling. Drizzle the glaze over wild-caught salmon, over raw cheese or even fresh berries to bring a natural sweetness and a bit of a tang.
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Banana Puree
Bananas are rich in fiber and potassium, and a good source of vitamins B6 and C. They are also naturally sweet with a subtle flavor, making them a perfect natural sweetener.
How to use banana puree:
First, overripe bananas are the best to use when replacing refined sugar in recipes. They are sweeter and puree well. For every cup of sugar called for in a recipe, use one cup of banana puree. To make the puree, add bananas to a food processor with a tablespoon of water and blend. Add more water if necessary to reach the consistency of thick applesauce. As bananas brown when exposed to air, use as quickly as possible in recipes. If you are using banana puree in raw preparations, add one teaspoon of fresh lemon juice to the food processor to help retard the oxidation process.
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Brown Rice Syrup
Brown rice syrup starts with brown rice that is fermented with enzymes to break down the starch. The liquid is then heated until the syrup consistency is achieved. The result? A thick, amber-colored, sweet syrup perfect for recipes calling for corn syrup and other unhealthy sweeteners. The fermented process helps to break down the sugars into ones that are easily digestible. The fermenting process is key – some brown rice syrups are fermented with barley enzymes, meaning it contains gluten. Purchase brown rice syrups that are labeled gluten-free.
How to use brown rice syrup:
Use a one-to-one ratio in place of corn syrup in recipes. To replace regularly processed white sugar, use one cup for each cup of sugar called for and decrease liquid in the recipe by ¼ cup. Use brown rice syrup to make healthy granola bars and granola, nut clusters, and to sweeten nut and fruit pies.
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Real Fruit Jam
The key here is real fruit jam. Berries, stone fruit, apples, pears and grapes are great replacements for sugar in recipes. You can use commercially available fruit jam; just be sure there is no added sugar or pectin. It’s better to make your own sugar-free jam with organic fresh or frozen fruit. It’s easy and economical.
How to use real fruit jam:
Replace sugar in recipes at a one-to-one ratio, decreasing the liquid in the recipe by ¼ cup. Or, for recipes that don’t have added liquids, you can add a tablespoon of coconut flour to thicken the recipe as desired. To make your own fresh jam, combine four cups of your favorite fruit or berry in a saucepan with ½ cup water. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Simmer until fruit has broken down and has started to thicken. Puree in a food processor and use immediately.
For a tasty apple pie, simmer 1/2 cup of peeled diced apples, with one cup of green grapes until soft. Puree in the food processor until smooth. Toss with sliced apples, a touch of cinnamon and bake as directed. The grapes will add a subtle sweetness while the natural pectin in the apples will help to thicken the pie.
In conclusion ...
You don’t have to live your life without sweetness to be healthy. You just need to replace unhealthy refined sugars and artificial sweeteners with these natural sweeteners. Each of the sweeteners listed has a best use, and some recipe modifications will be necessary. Experiment and find which natural sweetener you like best.
Personally, I really like honey, maple syrup, dates, and bananas. I use bananas to sweeten my smoothies, date paste as a crust to my desserts, maple syrup to sweeten my almond butter, and honey for everything else!
