We all know that sugar is the devil but it usually doesn’t stop us eating it, as the craving for sweet things is real. But what about the wide variety of sugar substitutes? Good or bad?
Sugar substitutes comprise of the good, the bad and the very, very ugly
The chemical ones like aspartame, sucralose and saccharin are poison in my (and many others) opinion.
What I’m interested in are the natural sugar substitutes of which there are quite a few. I’ve been reading up on them for quite awhile now and often incorporate them into my baking. Interestingly, I’ve found there is much confusion about whether these are actually healthful for us or not. I’ve done a number of articles on some of my discoveries, like Monk Fruit and Chicory Root.
Let’s be clear, natural sugars are still sugar
Natural sugars that are often used are maple syrup, honey, dates and coconut sugar. And yes, they do have some benefits BUT at the end of the day, they are sugar and contain fructose. So let’s forget those for the moment and find the natural and healthy alternatives that are NOT sugar.
Today, I have the great pleasure of sitting down with Sakiko, who is the founder of a healthy chocolate company. She set out to create chocolate that was healthy, organic and that had no sugar. Hence the name NoMoSu (no more sugar).
Besides the fact that she has a degree in nutritional science, functional medicine and biochemistry, she has immersed herself in all the literature and research on sugar alternatives, in the quest to find the perfect sweeteners for her chocolates. You can find NoMoSu in the UK on the Planet Organic website and at Erewhon in the US, as well as it’s own website: NoMoSu
If anyone knows about natural sweeteners it’s Sakiko
And it’s good news. In the video below, she explains the health benefits of most of them and why she chose specific ones for her chocolates.
Some of them are less sweet than regular sugar and some are a LOT sweeter. These are things that need to be taken into account when substituting for sugar. More of that in the video.
Sweetness versus sugar
Here’s a list of the different sugars and there level of sweetness v sugar:
| Natural + Healthy Sweet Ingredients | Sweetness v. Sugar |
|---|---|
| Chicory Fiber Inulin | 45% |
| Agave Fiber Inulin | 45% |
| Artichoke Fiber Inulin | 45% |
| Erythritol | 70% |
| Xylitol | 100% |
| Stevia Leaf | 300% |
| Monk Fruit | 300% |
| Allulose | 70% |
Comments 2
Hello Glynis
I think the meat alternative you refer to is Jack Fruit – not monk fruit.
kind regards.
Author
I’m referring here to a natural sugar alternative rather than a meat alternative. I have monk fruit right here in my cupboard.