Whether you have diabetes or are simply trying to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, using a sugar substitute might be a good idea. Not all sugar substitutes are calorie-free. For example, honey can be used in recipes in place of plain white sugar. While honey contains some nutrients, including antioxidants, it also contains fructose and glucose, two forms of sugar. Some sugar alternatives also don't do well when baked, so it's important that you take all this into consideration before making a choice.
Stevia
Stevia is the only sweetener made from a natural herb, rather than being completely chemical. Stevia can be safely heated up to 400 F degrees. According to the Stevia Info website, this makes it safe to use in baking. Stevia is much sweeter than sugar, so you will need to use much less in your recipes. If you're using liquid Stevia, 1 tsp. is enough to replace 1 cup of sugar.
Xylitol
Xylitol is the sweetener commonly used to sweeten diabetic products. It can be used to sweeten drinks, but it can be added to baked goods and other recipes. Because xylitol contains no calories and no trace of natural sugar, it won't affect your blood glucose or cause tooth decay. Xylitol can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems if consumed in excess, according to Family Education.
Brown Rice Syrup
Brown rice syrup is one of the few sweeteners that is less sweet than sugar, so you will need to experiment with amounts until you find what works for your baked recipes. The Whole Living website recommends using 1 1/4 cup of brown rice syrup for every cup of white sugar you would normally use in your recipes. Since this is a liquid, you might need to increase the amount of flour or use another dry ingredient to help balance the consistency of the mix.
Member Comments