8 Ways To Sweeten Your Food In A Healthy And Natural Way

There are healthier and more nutritious options than sugar to sweeten food. In addition to adding a touch of flavor to our dishes, there are many benefits that these alternatives bring to our health.

Sugar generates mixed feelings. Few people can resist a piece of cake or a creamy nougat ice cream. Not for nothing, it has been the preferred resource for sweetening foods for years. Today, however, we fight to reduce their consumption to the maximum.

It is well known that its habitual consumption and, above all, in large quantities, could cause great harm to health. . If it is not limited, we could develop diseases as serious as obesity or diabetes, among others.

However, this does not mean that we have to give up sweetening foods.  In this article, we show you healthier options than sugar to achieve this goal.

1. Cinnamon

The cinnamon it naturally has a sweet taste and can be used ground or raw.  Some people already use it as a substitute for sugar in coffee and desserts. Even if we sprinkle l cinnamon on a fruit, for example, we will be able to intensify its flavor. By the way, you will be adding antioxidants and phytonutrients.

2. Vanilla

Who can resist the sweetness and fragrance of vanilla ? Responsible for this true temptation for the senses is an organic compound called vanillin.  For all this, it is used to sweeten food. For sure, you can attest to how especially good it works in coffee and cakes or cookies. 

But did you know that cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant that helps counteract oxidative stress in the brain? You are right. Not only that; it also helps prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

So, our suggestion is that you try adding a couple of drops of liquid vanilla to your milk or infusions. If you haven’t already, you will find that sugar is no longer necessary. .

3. Beet root

Although it is not very common, you may have ever seen sugar cubes. This is the most common presentation of sugar obtained from beets.

Natural (meaning unprocessed) beet root could be a great alternative to refined cane sugar. So, try adding a piece of beets to sweeten drinks and desserts.

4. Maple honey

Maple or maple syrup is an excellent source of manganese, although it also contains calcium, potassium, and zinc. As if that were not enough, e This natural sweetener is rich in antioxidants. It also  helps both neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative damage.

Choose grade B maple syrups. There are two grades, A and B, but the latter is more natural, having undergone less industrial processing. P you may recognize it because it is darker because it contains more antioxidants than lighter syrups.

5. Fruit juice

Fruits are an excellent source of sugar. Unlike sugars obtained through industrial processes, these are completely natural.

Thus, to prepare a juice, you get natural fructose to sweeten t us food with minimal effort .  Of course, we recommend making the juice at home. Pasteurized, the juice, even if it is extracted naturally from the fruit, can be just as harmful as refined sugar.

To finish this section, we give you a couple of ideas:

• To sweeten sauces or meats, you could use orange or apple juice. You’ll love it! 
• And for the infusions, you could choose peach juices or similar fruits.

6. Yacon syrup

Yacon syrup is extracted from the roots of the plant of the same name.  Extremely sweet in taste, it has a consistency similar to molasses. The fructooligosaccharides it contains  They feed the bacteria that protect our intestines and produce short-chain fatty acids. All of this helps you lose weight.

Could you add it to tea and  shakes  what do you do at home . I also know  recommended for sweetening raw foods; not like that, to cook with him.

7. Coconut sugar

Surely, you have heard about the benefits of coconut water, its milk, its flour or fresh coconut. More recently, it is used  coconut sugar as its natural sweetener. This natural sweetener is characterized by having a low glycemic load and a rich mineral content.

Coconut sugar is also rich in antioxidants, p olyphenols and m inerals, such as iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.  Coconut sugar is extracted from the sap of coconut flowers and then heated.

But, there is even more: Best of all, you can use it to prepare any food or recipe. 

8. Stevia

The stevia It has become one of the most popular options when it comes to sweetening foods. Unlike many other foods that are said to be healthy without being healthy, stevia is actually very beneficial.

Stevia leaves can be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. However, they do not bring with them any long-term health problems. .

In the markets, you find stevia sugar of different brands. However, it is much healthier to use the blade and,  from it, you could extract its nectar. To do this, follow this procedure:

• Heat water.
• When it boils, remove it from the heat and add the stevia leaves.
• Let them infuse until it cools down.
• Store the nectar in a container and use it when you need it.

You will only need to take a few drops  to sweeten everything from creams and desserts to any other type of food that you want to take sweet.