Alternatives to sugar?

morales2343
morales2343 Posts: 4
in Food and Nutrition
What are some better, healthier alternatives to sugar?

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    there really aren't any...sugar in and of itself is not "unhealthy"...it's a naturally occurring micro-nutrient.

    i personally don't go out of my way to add sugar to anything and I eat very little in the way of processed foods with added sugar...but i eat fruit which contains sugar and I'm not too worried about it. I manage my macros and don't worry too much about micro nutrients like sugar that simply make up a small component of my carbohydrate macro.

    If you have a medical condition that warrants micromanaging sugar then I would suggest learning how to get by without "alternative" sweeteners and probably consult with a dietitian as to best deal with your condition. If you're just afraid of sugar...then just stop being afraid of sugar.
  • Sparkie134
    Sparkie134 Posts: 65 Member
    There is a book by Sally Fallon called Nourishing Traditions that will help with understanding of the breakdown of sugar & how refined sugar affects our body. Since reading this book I have stopped eating things with refined sugars in them. As far as making sweet things at home- raw honey, & pure, organic maple syrup are great replacements. Also date sugar (I don't care for it though), and whole sugar, which is called rapadura or rapunzel sugar.
  • rmdaly
    rmdaly Posts: 250 Member
    Apple juice concentrate can be used as a substitute, but don't expect the same sweetness you get from other sweeteners.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    If you have a medical condition that warrants micromanaging sugar then I would suggest learning how to get by without "alternative" sweeteners and probably consult with a dietitian as to best deal with your condition. If you're just afraid of sugar...then just stop being afraid of sugar.

    Pretty much. If so many of your calories are coming from sugar, then chances are you are avoiding the real issue...that there is too much damn sugar in your diet. Try using less sugar instead of looking for no/low calorie alternatives.
  • GlucernaBrand
    GlucernaBrand Posts: 486
    Thanks for sharing your suggestion to work with a registered dietitian to figure out the best alternatives for each individual. Sometimes we can cut down on the portion sizes of foods we eat that contain sugar, sometimes we can eat more foods without sugar, and sometimes use sugar substitutes. There's no one-size-fits-all recommendation, which makes working with an RD and your health care team even more important.
  • tamcrit
    tamcrit Posts: 340 Member
    I use organic coconut sugar, organic maple syrup, or organic raw honey....nothing artificial or refined....stay away from the artificial sugar substitutes and the white stuff.
  • illuvatree
    illuvatree Posts: 185 Member
    agave nectar, maybe.

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