Sugar is not the best friend of our health, but we also know that it is not easy to give it up.
Stevia is a natural sweetener. Photo: Archive
In recent years, sugar has become public enemy number one and many people have tried to reduce their consumption as much as possible or eliminate it completely from the menu.
Studies have shown that sugar plays an important role in obesity, diabetes and can damage our brain, age our skin and create addiction
However, giving up sugar is not exactly an easy mission. So the natural question is what can we eat to satisfy our cravings without sabotaging our effort to give up sugar. According to I Quit Sugar (IQS), the Australian company that encourages quitting sugar, there are some naturally sweet or very low sugar foods that will help if you’re going to quit.
patience
A plant native to South America, stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar. It has been used as a sweetener for centuries in South America and Japan and constitutes 41% of the sweetener market. Stevia has no calories and no glycemic impact, making it suitable for diabetics. It can be grown at home, although the transformation from the plant into a granular product is not a simple process.
Date sugar
It is made from a process of dehydrating dates and contains calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and copper, successfully replacing brown sugar. Unfortunately, it does not melt and is difficult to dissolve, which makes it unsuitable for use in beverages and in some baking recipes. However, it is a big plus for whole grain bread.
Dates are loaded with nutrients, including copper, iron, potassium, manganese, magnesium and vitamin B6.
Natural honey
Sweeter than sugar, honey brings many benefits to the body. It has more calories than regular sugar, but because it is sweeter, it can be used in small quantities. Honey contains all the vitamins that a doctor recommends for consumption: copper, manganese, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, silicon. It can be consumed plain, in teas or in milk. Try honey on toast, with yogurt or in tea for a sweeter taste.
Coconut sugar
Healthy natural sweeteners include coconut sugar. Like coconut water, coconut sugar provides the body with beneficial nutrients. With a low glycemic load, coconut sugar offers a sweet taste without the harmful effects of processed sugar. Use coconut sugar in recipes for a sweet taste and a healthy dose of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Maple syrup
A common presence in many people’s homes, maple syrup can be used in place of sugar in most cakes, but because it’s a liquid, you’ll need to reduce the amount of other liquids by about a quarter. If you want to use it for something other than cooking, you can also get maple sugar, which is made from dehydrated maple syrup.
