Healthy Sugar Alternatives

Added sugars are often found in processed foods such as donuts, bread, candy, soda, fruit punch, and sweet tea. These items have no nutritional benefits but can lead to health problems if consumed in large amounts including high blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.

Natural sugars like those found in fruits which contain fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, etc. Natural sweeteners such as honey, molasses, and maple syrup also have some nutritional benefits that added sugars do not offer.

Reducing the amount of refined sugars in our diets is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Sugar can have an adverse effect on our bodies, leading to obesity and other health issues. Fortunately, there are several steps we can take to reduce or eliminate sugar from our meals and snacks.

The first step is to consider using a healthy sugar substitute like honey, maple syrup, agave syrup & stevia.

Another way to cut down on refined sugars is by loading up on whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, lean proteins seafood nuts, and seeds that don't contain added sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup. Additionally skipping out soda energy drinks sweet teas fruit juices which are usually loaded with hidden sources of added sugar will help significantly lower your daily intake too! Lastly, you can also use whole fruit as natural sweeteners such as mashed banana oatmeal blended dates into smoothies and so on this way, you get all the fiber vitamins minerals antioxidants without any extra unhealthy additives!

Dr Menna El Saeed

Clinical Nutritionist & Dietitian AUC/AACME