Americans are eating around 150 pounds of sugar EACH year! As Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS notes in her book Get the Sugar Out, sugar has been linked with multiple health problems [cancer, impaired immunity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes Type II, obesity, and many more]. Many parents notice that sugar also affects their child’s mood, activity level, and ability to concentrate.
Let’s face it - most of us love sweets. So what are some sweet alternatives? Minimally processed sugars are natural and contain beneficial nutrients - and some do not cause rapid spikes in blood sugar like the white table sugar.
Sweet Alternatives
[with Quantity to Replace 1 cup white sugar]
*Honey [1/2 cup]
*Maple Syrup [1/3 cup]
*Blackstrap Molasses [1/2 cup]
Sucanat [1 cup]
Stevia [2 Tbs]
*Reduce the quantity of liquids in the original recipe to accommodate moisture included in the syrup
Honey [Caution: NOT for infants]
Contains trace amounts of vitamins, minerals & antioxidants
Maple Syrup
[the REAL deal, not imitation filled with corn syrup & artificial flavorings] Contains trace amounts of vitamins & minerals
Blackstrap Molasses
Contains iron and other minerals or try Sucanat which blends molasses with white sugar for easy baking
Stevia - The Sweet Herb
Staple in South American & Japanese cooking for decades
Use the green or brown [whole] stevia extracts or powders which contains phytonutrients
3 Simple Ways to REDUCE Sugar Intake
Eat REAL Foods loaded with Complex Carbohydrates: Fruits, Vegetables, Legumes, Nuts & Whole Grains Whole foods contain naturally occurring sugar WITH fiber to slow down the absorption of sugar, keeping your blood sugar in check
Avoid Processed Foods full of Simple Carbohydrates: All baked goods with White or Wheat Flour [including bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, many cereals] & Sugar, Corn Syrup, Fruit Juice, Candy, Soda Pop Processed foods have sugar WITHOUT fiber which is quickly absorbed, causing a rapid spike and drop in your blood sugar
Read All Food Labels: Avoid products whose top 3 ingredients include sugar and simple carbohydrates
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