Is coconut sugar a healthier choice?

Q:

My friend has been raving about coconut sugar—she loves the taste and claims it’s lowered her cravings for sweets. There’s so much information out there on healthy sweeteners…should I follow her lead?

A:

Go for it! Made from the sap of coconut trees, coconut sugar is natural and minimally processed. It has a glycemic score of 35—much lower than honey (55) and regular sugar (61)—so it won’t cause a large blood-sugar spike and will therefore limit postconsumption cravings. Also, coconut sugar contains minerals like iron, calcium and potassium, which increase energy levels, while regular sugar and artificial sweeteners deliver no nutrients. That said, you should use it sparingly: Coconut sugar contains the same number of calories as regular sugar. But as a sugar alternative, it is one of our favorites. We suggest replacing the sugar in your baking recipes (especially chocolate) with an equal amount of coconut sugar, or stirring it into hot or iced coffee or tea. To turn heads at the celebration, we suggest sipping 1 cup of kefir daily. This tangy fermented drink is a top source of Bifidobacterium lactis, a strain of probiotic bacteria that has been shown to spur the release of compounds that break down fat and block the creation of new fat cells. All told, these effects helped subjects in one study lose three times more weight over 45 days than a control group.

You can find kefir at the grocery store alongside yogurt or make it at home. To do: In a glass jar, mix 1 tsp. of active kefir grains (like Cultures for Health Kefir Starter Culture, $7, CulturesForHealth.com) with 1 cup of whole milk. Cover with a paper towel, secure with a rubber band and let sit at room temperature until thick, about 24 hours. Strain out the kefir grains and sip the drink by itself, add it to a smoothie or use it to make a creamy salad dressing.