Humans love sugar and products made of sugar. Sugar stimulates dopamine chemical, which is “feel good” chemical. There are several types of sugar available. Natural sweeteners are derived directly from flowers and plants, with minimal processing.
Many consumers are opting for healthier alternatives to refined table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. They might be making larger adjustments, such as following a keto diet, which can help some individuals lose weight by avoiding unneeded calories.
People with diabetes, for example, should be cautious of the sweets they take, as many of them alter blood sugar levels.
Sugars
There are two types of sugars, natural and artificial sugars. Glucose and fructose are the two natural sugars. Every living thing, including our own bodies, contains glucose. Our bodies create glucose on their own. It is the body’s elemental source of energy, and we require it.
Fructose is a kind of sugar present in fruits and other plants. Because it is a more complex sugar, our systems must break it down in order to utilize it. One of the many advantages of fructose is that it takes energy to be helpful in the body.
Food with natural sugars play an important role in preventing diseases, and fruits provide essential nutrients to keep the body healthy and prevent disease.
Complex processed sugars make up the majority of the sugars found in processed meals, soft drinks, and other foods. These are mostly sucrose. The majority of this comes from high fructose corn syrup. This is where the issue with these sweeteners arises.
As people have become more aware of the health risks linked with sugars, particularly processed sugars, a variety of natural sweeteners have emerged to replace them.
While natural sweeteners are a healthier alternative to processed sugars, some are not as healthy as many people think. If you’re thinking about switching sweeteners for health concerns, talk to a nutritionist or doctor about your alternatives.
What’s The Difference Between Natural and Artificial Sugars?
Natural sugars occur naturally in foods. Natural sugars such as glucose and fructose are present in fruits and vegetables. Artificial sweeteners, on the other hand, are not natural sugars and they deliver sweetness without calories.
The way natural and artificial sugars break down in the body is another distinction. If you eat a banana, for example, you will receive fructose as well as fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Fiber inhibits the digestion of meals and, as a result, the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream.
Artificial sweeteners are no naturally present in fruits or vegetables and they lack fiber, vitamins, and minerals, as well as the health benefits that natural sugars provide.
They are a part of various food products. Artificial sweeteners are wonderful for offering sweetness without calories if you’re attempting to lose weight or need to keep track of your blood sugar levels.
Few Examples of Natural Sweeteners
Here are examples of a few organic liquid sweeteners.
Stevia
Stevia is one of the most popular natural sweeteners. It is a South American plant with a leafy appearance.
Stevia extract is 100 to 300 times more powerful than white sugar. You can use stevia as a table sugar, in baking, and in cooking. It is available in both liquid and powder form, making it simple to measure for baking and cooking. Stevia can be used in place of sugar in tea and coffee.
Moreover, one of the most notable advantages of stevia is that it has no influence on blood sugar levels. It is suitable for diabetics and others who are sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations. It also has no calories in it. If you’re watching your weight, stevia is a great sweetener to use.
Raw Honey
Raw honey is the world’s organic liquid sweetener. Honey has been used as a sweetener since ancient times. Get your raw honey from a local source if possible. Enzymes, minerals, and vitamins may all be present in raw honey. Many of these components are lost when honey is processed or pasteurized.
Depending on the plant life in the area, local honey might have a dark and intense flavor or a mild sweetness. Another advantage of local raw honey is that it is made from local pollen sources, allowing you to establish a tolerance for these pollens. Local raw honey can be used as a natural allergy treatment.
Blackstrap Molasses
Molasses is manufactured from sugar beets or sugar cane. To manufacture blackstrap molasses, the fluids are extracted, clarified, and mixed. Another natural sweetener that has been around for a long time is organic molasses. Calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium are all abundant in it. Molasses that is darker in color is sweeter.
Syrup From Maple Trees
Maple syrup is an old-fashioned favorite among natural sweeteners. This is just sap from a sugar maple tree that has been reduced to a thick syrup. Manganese and zinc are abundant in maple syrup. It may be used in baking and other cookery in addition to the apparent topping for pancakes and waffles.
Ensure that the maple syrup you purchase is 100 percent pure. The most frequent supermarket products are just high fructose corn syrup with a cheap, fake maple taste.
Sugar Made from Coconut
This is also known as sap sugar or coconut palm sugar. The nectar of the coconut flower makes coconut sugar. Heat the nectar until it caramelizes. After that, it’s dried and powdered into granules that look like conventional table sugar. It’s high in potassium, iron, and vitamins, among other things.
Coconut sugar is similar to ordinary sugar in terms of calories and carbs, but it has a lower glycemic index. Coconut sugar is safer than ordinary sugar because it distributes glucose into the bloodstream at a much slower rate.