Go healthy with natural sweeteners
New year usually begins with resolutions to stay fit and adopt a healthy lifestyle. To beat a big hurdle in your healthy resolution – dieting boredom – one needs to keep the diet plan as exciting and simple as possible.
An important aspect of eating healthy involves cutting down on sugar. Nature has blessed us with a few natural sweeteners which can best fit into our healthy diet, say experts. Here are the four top natural sweeteners that can replace sugar in our diet:
SUGARCANE JUICE: NATURE’S SUPERFLUID
A great energy drink, skin toner, body cleanser, and loaded with a variety of medicinal properties, sugarcane juice is, unfortunately, missing from our diet plans. One of the biggest reasons was the hygiene factor. However now, with bottled or cold-pressed versions easily available in the market, sugarcane juice can make good pick-ups for a healthy start.
HONEY: NATURE’S BEST ANTIBIOTIC
Natural honey is loaded with nutrients — proteins, minerals and vitamins — and is an essential part of Indian home remedies since ages. The plant enzyme amylase present in raw honey is effective in breaking down and helping the predigestion of starches, and also helps raise the level of antioxidants in the body. Topping it off, it’s very low on calories — one teaspoon of honey is only about 20 calories.
COCONUT SUGAR: LOWER GLYCAEMIC INDEX AND GREAT NUTRITIONAL VALUE
Coconut sugar is also called coconut palm sugar. It is a natural sugar made from sap, which is the sugary, circulating fluid of the coconut plant. It is a good source of minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium, along with some short chain fatty acids, polyphenols, and antioxidants. Coconut sugar and coconut nectar contain a fibre known as inulin, which may help slow glucose absorption, offering an alternative for those dealing with diabetic concerns.
STEVIA: PLANT BASED, ZERO CALORIE, AND EASY TO USE
Stevia, extracted from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana, is growing in popularity across the world as a natural sweetener. A recently developed variety of stevia tastes exactly like sugar, so that our taste buds would not be compromised. It can be a vital tool for cutting calories from your daily diet without affecting blood sugar or insulin levels.
So, go ahead and include these natural sweeteners in your daily diet. No longer do you need to put in extra efforts to fight your sweet tooth, by eliminating sugar from your meals.
EXPERTS SUGGEST CUTTING DOWN ON SUGAR IN OUR DIET AND INSTEAD INCLUDING NATURAL SWEETENERS SUCH AS SUGARCANE JUICE, HONEY, COCONUT SUGAR, AND STEVIA