You may know the difference between a diet soda and its sugary cousin, but your body may not be so quick to judge. When you trick your body with an artificial sweetener, you may be disrupting Mother Nature’s way of counting calories, which according to new study findings could lead to overeating (International Journal of Obesity, 2004, vol. 28, no. 7). If you want to eschew artificials, try natural sweeteners that are better for you.
| 5 Natural Sugars To Try | | Sugar | Description | Uses | Benefits | Nutritional Info. | Calories | Protein | Carbs. | Total Fat | | Agave nectar | The juice extracted from the agave plant (the same plant used to make tequila). | Excellent substitute for sugar in recipes and in hot or cold tea. | Less processed than sugar, readily available. | 1 tablespoon | 60 | 0 | 16g | 0g | | Brown rice syrup | Derived from sprouted brown rice, has a honeylike consistency and a mild flavor. | Works well as a sweetener for your favorite beverage. Can be used in baking by substituting 3/4 cup agave for 1 cup white sugar and reducing liquid content by 1/4 cup. | Has a low glycemic index, but is made primarily of fructose and may have a negative effect on insulin metabolism. | 1 tablespoon | 43 | 0g | 11g | 0g | | Date sugar | Ground-up, dehydrated dates. | Substitute equally for brown or white sugar in most recipes. Doesn’t dissolve well in drinks. | Rich in fiber, and it metabolizes more slowly than sugar. | 1 tablespoon | 36 | 0g | 9g | 0g | | Fruit juice concentrates | Cooked-down fruits. | Great for flavoring and sweetening drinks. | Extra sweet. Made of fructose; may negatively effect insulin metabolism. | 1 tablespoon | 30 | 0g | 8g | 0g | | Honey | Plant nectar processed by the honeybee | Excellent in recipes and in tea. Use 1/2 cup for 1 cup white sugar; reduce liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup. | Less processed than white sugar; readily available. | 64 tablespoon | 30 | 0g | 17g | 0g | |
