What IS the Healthy Substitute for Sugar?

Sued0nim

jenncornelsen wrote: »

i use alot of honey coconut sugar and maple syrup. now i do also sometimes use sugar. u wont save much as far as calories go i just prefer them. to each theyre own. if ur looking for something less processed then sugar maple syrup and honey are good options

So you replace sugar with sugar?

judiness101

Artificial sweeteners and natural one are ok if you don't over do it. The thing is too much fructose can be harmful. However, putting a spoon or too in your coffee or tea is no big deal.

I personally use sucralose in my hot beverages and honey in my yogurt/marinades, because they taste better than say stevia and aspartame.

Hearts_2015

avvgromano wrote: »

Mommiana wrote: »

Suggestions please...artificial sweeteners aren't good for you; sugar isn't either...what does one use for sweetener in tea, coffee, or in baking? Thanks!

I'll tell you a secret: tea and coffee taste great without any sweeteners. Actually sugar and other sweeteners "kill" the taste of your drink. If you cut them out completely, you will start to appreciate good quality teas and coffees and enjoy your Darjeeling or your Earl Grey much better. You may want to start by gradually reducing the amount until you can cut it out altogether.

I too love tea just plain I find plenty of flavor in the varieties I drink without adding anything.

In regards to baking, date sugar sounds lovely to try, thank you for sharing your experience.

judiness101

herrspoons wrote: »

judiness101 wrote: »

Artificial sweeteners and natural one are ok if you don't over do it. The thing is too much fructose can be harmful. However, putting a spoon or too in your coffee or tea is no big deal.

I personally use sucralose in my hot beverages and honey in my yogurt/marinades, because they taste better than say stevia and aspartame.

Too much of anything is bad. Fructose is no better or worse than anything else.

There is no need for tautology here, since we are discussing sugar. For a lot of people it's easier to over do it on sugar than on proteins, since it's often absorb as liquid calories. If you eat a lot of process food, there is added sugar in everything. It does add up.

I'm not trying to do fear mongering here, but there are serious link with excess fructose and diseases like fatty liver and type 2 diabetes. But of course you have to over do it. I'm not sure we are allowed to post link here. But there is an interesting article called "How bad is fructose" in the American journal of clinical nutrition.

Sued0nim

judiness101 wrote: »

herrspoons wrote: »

judiness101 wrote: »

Artificial sweeteners and natural one are ok if you don't over do it. The thing is too much fructose can be harmful. However, putting a spoon or too in your coffee or tea is no big deal.

I personally use sucralose in my hot beverages and honey in my yogurt/marinades, because they taste better than say stevia and aspartame.

Too much of anything is bad. Fructose is no better or worse than anything else.

There is no need for tautology here, since we are discussing sugar. For a lot of people it's easier to over do it on sugar than on proteins, since it's often absorb as liquid calories. If you eat a lot of process food, there is added sugar in everything. It does add up.

I'm not trying to do fear mongering here, but there are serious link with excess fructose and diseases like fatty liver and type 2 diabetes. But of course you have to over do it. I'm not sure we are allowed to post link here. But there is an interesting article called "How bad is fructose" in the American journal of clinical nutrition.

If you have fatty liver disease or Type 2 Diabetes of any other medical condition then yes you probably should be concerned about your sugar intake but not otherwise. Just because there are links it doesn't follow that, all things being equal, something specific is bad. It's lifestyle.

If you are perfectly healthy eating a lot of fructose (plant sugar really? that's what we're talking about?) within a balanced nutritious diet isn't going to harm you.

phill_143

avvgromano wrote: »

I'll tell you a secret: tea and coffee taste great without any sweeteners.

Agree! I've always preferred coffee without sugar, but one of my friends recently reduced (by half a tsp a week) from coffee with 3 sugars to none. Although she has started buying 'posher' coffees now - so maybe an impact on the wallet!

joolsmd

I use sweetener in tea and sugar in baking, but to be honest I just reduced my refined sugar usage as much as possible. Stewed fruit in porridge or natural yoghurt is very nice.

Mommiana

Thanks for all the tips...

tnwlkr43

I rarely use sugar anymore but if I need to I use half Swerve( Swerve is a combination of erythritol and oligosaccharides that looks, tastes and measures just like sugar). and half regular sugar just to cut down on the calories and carbs...I am only allowed 110 carbs a day. I dont eat or drink anything else that requires you add sugar.

Ellaskat

Really depends on your goals. I use maple syrup we tap on my farm, or local honey whenever I can. When baking, I use regular sugar. Just in moderation:)

gmoneycole

Sweetener in tea and coffee...none. I use sugar when baking and just control the portions consumed. Good luck!

ndj1979

rabbitjb wrote: »

jenncornelsen wrote: »

i use alot of honey coconut sugar and maple syrup. now i do also sometimes use sugar. u wont save much as far as calories go i just prefer them. to each theyre own. if ur looking for something less processed then sugar maple syrup and honey are good options

So you replace sugar with sugar?

i was thinking the same thing...

noxnoctis

Ok. The problem with sugar is that the food industry added it to everything over the last few decades because they removed fat from everything. Do yourself a favor, only consume it in its natural state, from fruit and veggies.

Good luck with kicking your addiction. Anyone telling you its not addictive is just fos.

MindySaysWhaaat

noxnoctis wrote: »

Ok. The problem with sugar is that the food industry added it to everything over the last few decades because they removed fat from everything. Do yourself a favor, only consume it in its natural state, from fruit and veggies.

Good luck with kicking your addiction. Anyone telling you its not addictive is just fos.

Strong first post. I had to go back and reread the OP to make sure, but nowhere does she claim she's an addict. I'm not going to broach that topic because the arguments it causes just wear me out, tbh, but you shouldn't label her as having an addiction when she hasn't said it first.

lingo10

I either do regular sugar or agave.

Liftng4Lis

sugar- brown, powdered or just plain granulated.

cwolfman13

lyndsayfletch wrote: »

Stevia is a plant based sweetner...not bad for u at all :-)

sugar is a plant based sweetener...just sayin'...sugar if fine for most people in appropriate amounts.

LessthanKris

If I am not using sugar in baking I usually use maple syrup. Honey is also common but I am not a big fan of honey and neither is my four year old so I do not use it much.

jagi410

Evaporated Cane Juice

sgthaggard

Less sugar? I tend to stick to natural sweeteners because the artificial ones (along with stevia and agave) leave a really crappy aftertaste.

esjones12

Organic honey and maple syrup are great sweeteners. Stevia is also fantastic and zero calorie, however you really have to make sure it is pure and not processed.

Always reach for real sugar before reaching for fake, low calorie, processed junk. If you have health concerns regarding sugar, talk to your doctor.