Amazing Natural Alternatives to Sugar

When it comes to a healthy diet, a low consumption of sugar is a must. Sugar can cause a variety of health issues, from obesity to serious liver problems. That’s why an excess of sugar cannot be part of a healthy diet.

But if you have a sweet tooth, it won’t be easy to reduce the sugar amounts or even to give up on it, no matter the health problems you may have. But did you know that there are plenty of alternatives to sugar, some of them even sweeter than sugar? Reducing the consumption of sugar does not necessary mean you have to give up on your sweet daily pleasures.

• Stevia

Stevia is a green leafy plant from South Africa, and has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries now. But this herb is also successfully used as a sweetener because it is 300 times sweeter than sugar. It is not an artificial sweetener so it does not have the same harmful effects.

You can buy stevia extract, as a powder or a liquid, but you can also make your own homemade sweetener. For this purpose, you can buy stevia leaves as a whole.

Scientific researchers say that stevia not only that doesn’t cause the same harm that sugar causes to your body, but it actually has some real benefits for your health. For example, the herb can reduce the blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic. Another advantage of stevia is the fact that the herb lowers the blood sugar level, and it can help the patients suffering from diabetes.

Nowadays, stevia is commonly used as a sweetener in Asia, especially in Japan.

• Honey

Compared to sugar, honey has always been superior. Honey has been used for centuries not only for its sweetness but rather for its medicinal purposes. It has wonderful antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antibiotic proprieties. These attributes of honey have been confirmed by scientific studies, not only by the long use in traditional medicine.

Because of these proprieties and because it is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, and other nutrients, honey can be successfully used in treating wounds and burns, allergies, gastro-intestinal ailments, cough and even dandruff. Its benefits are very numerous while there are no side-effects if consumed in normal amounts.

If sugar can cause sleep disorders and it only gives you energy for a very short period, you cannot say the same about honey. This ingredient helps you to have a good sleep and even to regulate your sleep cycle, and it boosts your energy level not only through fructose and glucose but also through the vitamins and minerals it contains.

Other Natural Alternatives

Even though honey and stevia are the most common natural alternatives to sugar, it doesn’t mean that they are the only ones. You can also use lucuma powder. Besides the taste, lucuma powder boosts your immunity and provides you with minerals, vitamins, fiber, and carbohydrates. Another great alternative is artichoke syrup, very efficient when you suffer from gastrointestinal problems.