Off the Urban Grid

Sugar Free Can Be So Sweet & Healthy

How can you make desserts and snacks delectably sweet without sugar? Believe it or not, it’s actually possible. Not only does sugar have calories, nonorganic sugar most likely contains pesticides, because farmers have to protect the sugar cane from insects and red rot disease. If you prefer pesticide free sweeteners, try the alternatives below.

Agave Nectar

Agave nectar comes from the Blue Agave plant, and it’s a low calorie sweetener that you can bake with. It’s comparable to honey, but it has a lower glycemic index. You can find certified organic and kosher forms of this sweetener too.

Stevia

This particular herb, Stevia Rebaudiana, comes from Paraguay and Brazil, but it’s also cultivated in California and Southern Ontario. Stevia is extremely sweet in small doses, so you don’t have to use very much of it. Since it has zero calories, carbohydrates and glycemic index, it’s the perfect touch of sweet to any snack such as fresh fruit from your garden.

Honey

Honey has a glycemic index of 55, but this is still lower than sugar’s glycemic index. Another benefit of honey is that you can create it in your own backyard instead of buying it a grocery store, but I guess you have to like bees and be willing to care for them too. Honey is a versatile product that can be used in foods, drinks and even homemade skin care products such as salt scrubs and lip balms.

There are so many natural sugar alternatives, why not give them all a try before deciding on which one you like best? If your body is sensitive to sugar, you might want to opt for the sweeteners that are low on the glycemic index. Although, the production of sugar will most likely more sustainable in the future, at least there are options so you can get your sugar fix.

Tags: agave nectar, honey, Stevia, sugar alternatives, sugar free