Healthier sweet alternatives to sugar

So here am again talking about healthy stuff, why? Because I believe health is really important….like really really important.

Without health, you usually have a hard time feeling happy or at your very best. And when we lose our health, we will know about it..big time and will want to do anything to get it back….I know I do.

“Health is the true wealth”

Good health starts with good habits – how do we form good habits? Well I suggest start one at a time, and keep going until you’ve transformed all your bad habits to good habits.

We all have bad habits – we’re only human after all. So don’t be hard on yourself. One day, one habit at a time….and cutting down on sugar is a great way to start. Don’t get me wrong though, I do love my chocolate and treat myself to some most days but like with everything in life…moderation is key and part of selfcare.

What I learned over the years is, you can’t just kick a bad habit, you have to swap or replace a habit with another habit. So swap from bad to good and that’s exactly what this post ( and my whole blog) is all about.

Changing all the things, habits, life style you don’t want, to the things you do want for better health & overal wellbeing. So you can live the best life you can.

We all know sugar isn’t great for our health right! It can cause some health issues or risks.

Sugar may cause these problems

• Tooth decay/cavities

• Type 2 diabetes

• Poor nutrition/malnutrition

• Obesity/weight issues

• Sugar is addictive and can cause cravings

• Heart disease

• Cancer

• Harmful to the metabolism

• Interferes with hormones that regulate hunger

• Has no nutritional value

Most of us consume way too much sugar in our diets and sometimes don’t realise just how much. The foods we buy in packaging or boxes, may contain sugars, so be careful when checking the ingredients list.

The good news is…you don’t have to go without your favourite sweet treats. As there are sweet alternatives to sugar.

Sugar alternatives

• Stevia – is a natural sweetener that’s extracted from leaves of a South American shrub. It contains no calories. It’s sweeter than sugar, so less is needed. Stevia is not associated with any adverse health effects, so there no known risks to your health.

• Honey – honey contains traces of vitamins & minerals and an abundance of antioxidants. Eating honey can lower bad cholesterol and is less harmful on blood sugar levels and metabolism. But still contains fructose but less than refined sugar, so consume in moderation.

• Maple syrup – maple syrup is a thick liquid that’s made/cooked from the sap of maple trees. It contains minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and manganese. It also contains 24 types of antioxidants. It’s a slightly better option than refined sugar.

• Coconut sugar – is extracted from the sap of the coconut palm. It contains some nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium and potassium. Also contains some antioxidants. Coconut sugar should be used quite sparingly though because it does contain some fructose and also some calories.

Tips:

Why not try using stevia or honey to sweeten your tea or coffee to replace sugar. I use honey in my camomile tea, it’s delicious.

You can use maple syrup in porridge or on pancakes…yum!

Coconut sugar is great in cakes, I use it when I do some baking it’s lush.

Whenever I get a sugar craving ( usually after a meal) I have a piece of fruit which usually helps to stop it.

If you enjoyed my post, you can comment below as I’d love to know if it was useful to you.

Love Marie x