There are many forms of cane sugar, as well as sugar from other plants. In addition, there are liquid sweeteners such as honey and maple syrup, as well as an increasing number of artificial sweeteners such as Splenda and Truvia - Beet sugar, Brown sugar, Cane sugar, Date sugar, Demerara sugar, Fructose, Fruit sweetener, Jaggery, Maple sugar, Muscovado, Piloncillo, Raw sugar, Rock sugar, Sucanat, Turbinado and White refined sugar. Liquid sweeteners include the following - Barley malt syrup, Corn syrup, Honey, Malt syrup, Maple syrup, Maple honey, Molasses, Rice syrup and Sorghum molasses. Look for and find the sweetener of your choice from Zambian suppliers here. Sugar is an umbrella term for many types of simple carbohydrates, including white table sugar. Also called sucrose, this is the most common sweetener used in sweet desserts and baked goods. Sucrose is only one of several types of sugar naturally found in foods including fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products.
Artificial sweeteners (sometimes called sugar alternatives) can replace sugar in foods and drinks to give you a sweet taste but with few or no calories. They are often several hundred times sweeter than sugar. So compared to sugar, only a little is needed for the same sweet taste.
Both sugar and artificial sweetener are addictive. But artificial sweeteners may be likelier to make you get hungry, eat more throughout the day and develop diabetes. Sugar is OK in limited amounts and in the context of a healthy diet. Eating a cookie you've made yourself is fine
They're low in calories, low in fructose, and taste very sweet. Here are 5 natural sweeteners that could be healthier alternatives to refined sugar.
Natural Sweeteners That Are Good for Your Health
- Stevia. Stevia is a very popular low calorie sweetener.
- Erythritol.
- Xylitol.
- Yacon syrup.
- Monk fruit sweetener.
Six high-intensity sweeteners are FDA-approved as food additives in the United States: saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), sucralose, neotame, and advantame.
Stevia — in packet, drops or plant form — is a dietitian favourites. Not only does it contain zero calories, but stevia-based sweeteners are herbal as opposed to artificial. Stevia blended with a sugar alcohol called erythritol (Truvia®) works well in low-carb baked desserts, too.
Sugar substitutes and sweeteners
- Maple syrup. Type: Natural sweetener.
- Date paste. Type: Natural sweetener.
- Honey.
- Coconut sugar.
- Agave nectar.
- Monk fruit extracts (brand names: Nectresse, PureLo)
- Stevia extracts (brand names: Pure Via, Truvia, SweetLeaf)
- Xylitol (brand names: XyloSweet, Ideal, PolySweet)
Most harmful artificial sweetener
The worst of the worst culprits include aspartame (found in Equal and NutraSweet), sucralose (found in Splenda), and Saccharin (found in Sweet 'N Low). Many people who cut artificial sugars out of their diets report the improvement of many health problems including migraines, depression, IBS, weight gain, and more
When you remove aspartame from your diet, you may experience mood swings — ranging from happiness to sadness to even depression. Aspartame withdrawal can even lead to panic attacks, which cause thoughts of fear along with excessive perspiration and a rapid heartbeat.
From a calorie and sugar content perspective, the differences between sugar and honey are minimal, however, overall, honey contains slightly more health benefits than table sugar from its potential antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Good substitutes for sugar in coffee include natural sweeteners like honey, stevia, and maple syrup.
- Erythritol.
- Monk Fruit Extract.
- Stevia.
- Agave Nectar.
- Honey.
- Maple Syrup.
- Molasses.
- Coconut Sugar.
