Sugar Substitutes

First off, donuts are delicious. I’m not going to argue with anyone on that score. But that being said, sugar can be extremely dangerous to consume on a daily basis. It can raise your risks for heart disease and cancer. It causes weight gain, depression, anxiety, acne, and can accelerate cellular damage. It also depletes your body’s stores of magnesium.

So in an attempt to lower your sugar content, you might reach for your sucralose, your aspartame or your Twin Sugars and think that you’re doing a good thing for yourself, but actually you might be causing more harm than sugar does. Artificial sweeteners can cause Type 2 Diabetes, memory impairment, mood disorders, headaches and migraines,

Don’t get frustrated. There are alternatives that are healthy for you and won’t give you a chronic disease.

Stevia is one that is overlooked by most people. It comes from the herb Stevia and is prepared either by drying the herb or by preparing it in an alcoholic tincture. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar so a little goes a long way. It has zero calories when used as a sweetener so it is great to use for people who would like to lose weight. The downfall to it is that it can cause digestive issues if you use too much. It also has a bitter aftertaste that a lot of people don’t like. Look for an organic brand.

Honey is one of nature’s miracles. It is naturally antibacterial and can be used for many things besides just adding a bit of sweetness to your life. It can be used in hair masques, skin masques and salves for skin issues. If taken internally, it has antioxidants and nutrients that support the body. It has 64 calories per tablespoon so you’re not going to want to over use it if you’re looking to lose weight. It doesn’t raise blood sugar levels as quickly as sugar does so it can be great for diabetics. It also helps to regulate cholesterol in the body and improve athletic performance. If you’re planning on adding honey to everything, just remember that if you heat it, it loses most of its enzymes and is not as potent. It is best to use raw, organic and local.

Maple syrup is another of nature’s miracles. It is full of antioxidants as well as nutrients including zinc, potassium, manganese, thiamine, calcium, iron, magnesium, and riboflavin. Maple syrup has properties that may protect the body against certain types of cancers. It also has a lower glycemic index which means that it is safer for diabetics in small amounts.

Coconut sugar is one of my personal favourites for baking recipes. Coconut sugar is made from the sap of the cut flowers of the coconut palm. It contains quite a few vitamins and minerals as well as inulin which helps to keep the glycemic index low. It is quite high in calories but you’d have to use a lot of it to experience any issues. It is great for substituting in recipes that call for sugar. In small amounts, this is a great sugar alternative.

Medjool dates are always in my trail mix and there are some great reasons why. First, they taste amazing. Like little soft caramels. They are great for digestive issues, the liver, strengthening the bones and muscles and are full of nutrients. It is easy to add them in to your recipes or include them as a healthy snack. These were my go-to snack food a few years ago went I went two months without having any types of sugar, even honey or maple syrup. They are a life-saver.

A few other sweeteners that didn’t make the list are blackstrap molasses (great for iron content!), bananas, and monk fruit.

If you’re looking for recipes that might include any of these, click on my Pinterest Link. I have a board that is No Wheat or Sugar Foods. I think there’s even a donut recipe on there.

Enjoy!