Everything about natural sugar alternatives

In today’s article, we would like to introduce you to natural sugar alternatives and compare their most important properties. However, it should also be emphasised that each and every one of us should reconsider our sugar consumption per se. Because reducing sugar in general is simply far healthier than just looking for alternatives.

Sucrose, more commonly known as “household sugar”, is a disaccharide consisting of glucose and fructose. Sugar is therefore a sweet-tasting carbohydrate that promotes tooth decay. We find sugar naturally in honey and fruit, among other things. However, since the cultivation of sugar beet and the industrial refining of sugar, we also find it as an additive in food and drinks.

The golden, hard to firm honey is not only sweet in flavour, it is also anti-inflammatory and a proven household remedy for coughs and sore throats. Like sugar, it consists of glucose, fructose and water and provides almost the same amount of energy, namely over 350kcal per 100g. However, it has a higher sweetening power.

Coconut blossom sugar, which is obtained from the coconut palm, is clearly the most exotic sugar alternative. But what is behind this trendy and “healthy” sugar substitute? The brownish coconut blossom sugar has a flavour slightly reminiscent of caramel and malt. It has a high sweetening power and is in no way inferior to white household sugar in terms of calories.

As the name suggests, sweet agave syrup is extracted from the agave plant and can be used almost anywhere in the kitchen thanks to its neutral flavour and high sweetening power. However, due to its high fructose content, it should be avoided or used very sparingly if you are fructose intolerant.

The rather thick maple syrup is obtained by tapping Canadian sugar maple trees. The resulting sap is then boiled down. In very small quantities, maple syrup contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances. However, caution is also advised here with excessive consumption. Compared to household sugar, however, maple syrup causes blood sugar levels to rise less quickly and less strongly.

Perhaps the dessert lovers among you have now learnt about one or two interesting alternatives to sugar. But in the long term, you should probably reconsider your own regular sugar consumption and take a critical look at trendy alternatives in advance. The WHO recommends consuming no more than 6 teaspoons or 25 grams of sugar a day.

Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom or vanilla can also be used as sugar substitutes to refine afternoon desserts or morning muesli and are gentle on blood sugar levels and teeth.