Are you somebody that just constantly craves something sweet? Do you find it hard to say no to treats? Have you ever met a dessert that you didn’t love? There are so many of us that have the ever present sweet tooth, and if you’re not careful this could negatively affect your health. Though a little sweet treat here and there isn’t bad, we as a society tend to eat far too much sugar overall. This is precisely why it’s important to be aware of some great sugar alternatives that can work well for you at any meal and at any time of day.
It’s not to say that you can’t enjoy natural or raw sugar sometimes, but it should be an exception to the rule. You want to first and foremost start to read labels and understand what really lies within some of your favorite foods. You will be shocked to realize just how much sugar is contained within even the simplest foods. Knowing that, you want to be certain that you get ahold of this and that you make sugary sweet treats a very limited experience. This is why you want to seek out healthier alternatives—for they will allow you to satisfy that sweet tooth without potentially damaging your health in the process.
If you feel that you are limited or that you can’t possibly find any good sugar alternatives then it’s time to broaden your horizons. You will be happy to know that these substitutes taste just as good, but they don’t put your health at risk in the process.
Honey: This is “nature’s sweetener” and it works beautifully! It’s actually good for you and though it does contain sugar it’s a natural type that isn’t harmful. You can sweeten nearly anything with honey and you can mix it into almost any recipe for a great alternative to the white sugar you’ve been using. If you get a local raw honey then it may even help with allergy problems too. Honey could be your new best friend and you’ll never miss the sugar.
Agave Nectar: This comes in a syrup form and though it’s sweet it’s actually good for you. This is newer to the scene when it comes to sugar alternatives but you can find it in nearly anything from the most commercial products to sweetener for coffee. Be sure that it’s natural and pure, but agave nectar or syrup is a great way to offer sweetness in a healthy form.
Fruit and Natural Fruit Juices: If you need to give into something sweet, why not turn to fruit? Though this may sound contrite it really does work! You can enjoy a delicious fruit salad or even mix fruit into a favorite dish for a different kind of sweet. If you juice or if you can use the actual juice from a favorite fruit such as pineapple, then you can also enjoy a nice sweet addition that is healthy, natural, and actually good for you too. That’s a win win!
Cocoa or Cocoa Powder: Though alone it may not do much for you, mixing it in with your favorite ingredients can make for a great sweet treat. Try to opt for a dark chocolate blend and be certain that it’s natural and pure. Mixing in a touch of cocoa powder can give a nice sweet flavor profile to even the most bitter substance such as coffee. Try it and see for yourself!
Maple Syrup: You may not think of it as healthy, but maple syrup is natural and comes to you from nature so it’s a much better option than sugar. You will be happy to know that this is one of those sugar alternatives that works FOR you, and in all actuality a little goes a long way, which is great too. Enjoy it and see that it doesn’t take much to help you to satisfy that sweet tooth with the most natural substitutes that are good for you in the process.
