Although used for quite long, it has been proven that artificial sugar is not good for our health. According to many studies, sugar is addictive, can lead to obesity if consumed in larger quantities and might lead to increasing the risks of cancer. Although not proven, the only thought that sugar can increase the chances of cancer can make us reconsider the idea of using it. Luckily, these days there is a chance to sweeten your food and beverages without the use of sugar with lots of sugar substitutes, natural ones, which makes them good for our health.
Honey
Obtained by bees, honey is the first natural sugar substitute used by human beings. In fact, honey is considered one of the oldest sweeteners in the world which has lots of valuable nutrients. Except for being great natural sweetener, honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, and when paired with ginger, it can be great in fighting colds.
Note: Those of you who are trying to manage blood sugar levels, honey is not the best option you have as it has a similar impact on blood sugar levels as artificial sugar.
Stevia
Without any doubt, stevia is considered the most popular sugar substitute over the past few years. Available in the form of granules and liquid drops, stevia is a sweetener extracted from the South American plant species stevia rebaudiana. The thing why people prefer stevia over sugar is that stevia has zero calories, won't damage teeth and it is way beneficial to our health than sugar. Additionally, it is available in a range of forms, out of which the liquid stevia flavored has been on the top of the list among users. Vanilla, chocolate, coconut, caramel, peppermint and hazelnut are just some of the many liquid stevia flavored options you can choose from, ranging in size pack and brand. Another benefit of using stevia in any form is that it has no effects on the blood sugar levels which means that it is the ideal sugar substitute for diabetics.
Note: For those of you who haven't use stevia, you must know that when compared to artificial sugar, stevia is way, way sweeter, so it might take you some time until you estimate the right dosage for your needs.
Agave Syrup
Agave syrup or also known as agave nectar is a sugar substitute produced from the juice of the agave plant which is found in Mexico. This sweetener is similar to honey but it's thinner in consistency and contains lots of vitamins, minerals and metabolites. Since it's more “liquid” than honey, it is more soluble in foods and drinks. The main downside of agave is that it has almost the same calories as honey and it has way too much fructose. All these things can be bad for your health if taken in huge quantities and for a prolonged period of time.
