Top Healthiest and Unhealthiest Sweeteners

We're giving you the sugary scoop on sweeteners!

A bold undertaking, cutting down on refined sugar can do wonders to your health, while preventing you from experiencing issues like obesity and tooth decay down the road. You’ll find refined sugar in countless products: from the more obvious sugary cereals, to less incriminating items like pizza sauce and white bread. As a powerful drug, sugar affects your insulin activity, hunger signals, and energy levels. It’s also a sneaky culprit that can add inches to your waistline.

Luckily, you can still sweeten your food and satisfy sugar cravings by opting for sugar substitutes. Due to the boatload of alternatives out there, it’s all too easy to go about sweetening your food the wrong way. Many artificial sweeteners might contain no calories whatsoever, but they can carry dangerous side effects that ultimately make them worse than sugar itself! The verdict? Not all sweeteners are created equal!

Here at SkinnyMs., we’re giving you the sugary scoop on sweeteners, listing which ones we recommend you stock up on, and which options we urge you to ditch. Start sweetening the right way!

The Good:

1. Coconut Sugar

Derived from the coconut palm tree, this natural alternative boasts a lower glycemic index than conventional sugar. In addition, it actually carries some vital nutrients, such as zinc, calcium, and potassium. Just watch your intake: coconut sugar is quite caloric, so it won’t shave off any calories when you sub it in for normal sugar!

Treat yourself (and your sweet tooth) to these Coconut Banana Paleo Cookies. With clean ingredients like almond flour and coconut sugar, you can enjoy cookies without the guilt!

2. Honey

Also referred to as liquid gold, honey has been praised for centuries for its medicinal properties and incredible health benefits. Its antimicrobial properties keep bad bacteria at bay, helping to support a working digestive system. Meanwhile, the natural sugars can boost your energy levels, and its antioxidants can improve your memory. All nutritional properties aside, honey tastes downright delectable!

If you thought honey only offered a couple benefits, think again! Here are 10 Amazing Benefits and Uses of Honey.

3. Stevia

This natural, calorie-free sweetener is hundreds of times sweeter than table sugar, meaning you only need a small amount to sweeten your food. The stevia leaf contains magnesium, potassium, zinc, and vitamin B3, while also carrying some fiber that can promote proper digestion. Best of all, stevia doesn’t affect your blood sugar levels, meaning you don’t have to worry about those spikes and plummets that trigger intense cravings or send you into a hunger rage.
Opting for stevia to sweeten your baked goods and dessert recipes will shave off calories from the final product. For a delicious sweet-tooth satisfier that uses this approved sweetener, check out our Clean Eating Crème Brulee Recipe!

4. Real Maple Syrup

Although real maple syrup won’t help you cut down on calories, the tasty sweetener carries a bunch of nutritional properties that can certainly improve your health. With over 63 antioxidants, maple syrup can prevent diseases caused by free radicals, while boosting your immune system and keeping you energized and healthy. Plus, the delicious champion food makes your pancakes taste that much better.

This Maple Banana Quinoa Recipe gets its sweet, indulgent flavor from pure maple syrup. What better way to greet the morning?

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Ellie Krasner

Ellie is a full-time violinist living in Las Vegas, and a writer with an insatiable appetite for clean eating and fitness! She is a graduate of Binghamton University with degrees in English literature and violin, and loves investigating the world of healthy living.

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