We know that eating too much sugar is bad for your health. That’s why we invented – or found in some cases – sugar substitutes. They are meant to help us get our sweet fix while not forcing us to pay for eating too much sugar. But not all sugar substitutes are made the same. Some are hardly any better than eating actually sugar. Read on to learn about the best sugar substitutes.
Really Bad Sugar Substitutes
1.High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is made from corn and is a major export of the United States. It is composed of equal parts glucose and fructose, like table sugar is.
- Pros: It’s cheap, sweet, and just about everywhere.
- Cons: The corn used to produce HFCS is genetically modified and has been linked to certain health concerns, including obesity, insulin resistance, and liver disease.
2.Brown Rice Syrup
This sugar substitute is made using 3 different sugars: maltose, maltotriose, and glucose. That’s three too many.
- Pros: BRS is made from glucose not fructose, which has a less harmful effect on your liver.
- Cons: This syrup has an exceedingly high glycemic index of 98. That is way higher than any other type of sugar, with standard table sugar only having a glycemic index of 98.
Somewhat Better Sugar Substitutes
1.Brown Sugar
Brown sugar is essentially white sugar that has had some molasses either left in it or put back in it post processing.
- Pros: Brown sugar has more of a nutrient profile than white sugar. It contains trace amounts of minerals like, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
- Cons: Although brown sugar does contain some minerals, they are typically not in a sizable enough quantity to benefit your body.
2.Honey
Honey is made naturally by honeybees. It has been used as a natural sweetener for centuries.
- Pros: Honey has antioxidants, known as flavonoids, which can help to prevent the development of cancer.
- Cons: Honey still has a high concentration of sugar, and the effectiveness of its health profile is dependent on the type of flowers the bees choose to cultivate.
The Best Sugar Substitute
Fresh Fruit
Eating whole fresh fruit instead of sugar is the best option for a sugar substitute, hands down. If you completely give up sugar, you will find that the natural sweetness of berries is almost too sweet after a while.
