Top 5 Sugar Alternatives and Replacements

Sunningdale Mills
Sep 11, 2017
2 min read

Eliminating sugar from one’s diet is almost impossible, especially for someone with a sweet tooth. There are several healthier alternatives to refined sugar – the keyword being healthier. Some of these alternatives contain additional health benefits, like vitamins and minerals that one would not get from refined or heavily processed sugars. These replacements and alternatives should not be considered “healthy,” just healthier options to curb sugar cravings and should be consumed in moderation.

Pure Raw Local Honey – a great source of antioxidants, antibacterial, antimicrobial, phytonutrients, anti-inflammatory, amino acids, and electrolytes. Consuming local honey is said to help with allergies because it contains local pollen that may help develop immunity – even if this is not true, it is still a fantastic substitute for refined sugar.
Organic Coconut Palm Sugar – it can be used to replace refined sugar cup for cup in recipes and is lower on the glycemic index. It contains minerals like Iron, Zinc, Calcium, and Potassium.
Dates – this alternative is high in fiber, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals. Fiber actually slows down sugar absorption and can keep carbohydrates in check after a meal. A few other health benefits include digestive health, heart health, lowering blood pressure, and weight loss
100% Pure Organic Maple Syrup – this sweetener comes from maple trees; the sap is collected in early spring when there are cold nights and warm days. The sap is simply boiled down, meaning there are no additives or coloring. It contains antioxidants, several vitamins and minerals, fewer calories, and lower on the glycemic index. You can also try Birch Syrup, which is made just like Maple Syrup, but slightly lower on the glycemic index.
Stevia – this alternative is great for people with blood sugar problems, overweight, high blood pressure, or have diabetes. The extract from the full leaf or ground leaf has no calories, no carbs, non-glycemic response, and a few drops will give you all the sweetness you need.