1. Agave Nectar

History lesson time: The Aztecs used agave thousands of years ago and praised this syrup as a gift from gods. A derivative of the same plant as tequila (cheers!), this golden sweetener tastes similar to honey and is perfect in hot or iced tea. But be sure to use in moderation—agave’s high fructose content can sometimes cross it in to the dangerfood zone!

2. Maple Syrup

The benefits of maple syrup are aplenty: It comes directly from a plant’s sap and contains over 50 antioxidants. Make sure to grab the real stuff (sorry, Aunt Jemima) and spread it over waffles or use it in homemade granola.

3. Lemon

Fans of gin can skip the extra sugar in a Tom Collins and add an extra lemon squeeze—we promise no one will notice.

4. Honey

Thanks to bees, this scrumptious stuff packs an antioxidant punch. Enjoy some in hot tea to help soothe a scratchy throat, or get creative and add a spoonful to homemade salad dressing.

5. Applesauce

Instead of a half-cup white sugar in a batch of oatmeal cookies, swap in an equal amount of applesauce! The natural sweetness from a Golden Delicious or Fuji apple is perfect in an after-dinner treat. Purchase the no sugar-added kind, or make some at home.

6. Erythritol

This sugar alcohol is practically a guilt-free sweet solution. (And the FDA says it’s safe!) At 0.2 calories per gram, the white powder from a plant occurs naturally in many fruits. Plus, it doesn’t lead to tooth decay and other not-so-sweet effects of sugar consumption. It’s not quite as sweet as natural sugar, so try it in chocolate baked goods like brownies.

7. Raisins

For a creative spin on things, blend a cup of raisins in a food processor. With antioxidants and fiber, these little dried grapes add a kick to any baked good.

8. Cinnamon

Spice up a morning cup of coffee with cinnamon. This super spice adds subtle sweetness while boosting immunity, no calories included.

9. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

For a warm winter treat, mix some unsweetened cocoa powder in a glass of hot water or skim milk. It’ll satisfy that sweet tooth without all the extra sugar the sweetened version includes. Add a splash of vanilla extract for extra flavor!

10. Reb A

Hailing from South America, this natural extract comes from the stevia plant and is recognized by the FDA as safe. It only takes a drop or two to sweeten a bowl of oatmeal.

11. Cranberries

Skip the cup of sugar and add cranberries to a batch of muffins or scones. These little tart treats add a dose of antioxidants refined sugar can’t offer.

12. Processed Dates

Grab a bunch of dates for an extra boost of antioxidants in the next baking experiment. With a low glycemic index and some subtle sweetness, it may be perfect for brownie batter or the base of homemade granola bars. Substitute two-thirds cup for one cup of regular sugar.

Source: Laura Schwecherl

Image: Aayis Recipes

The post Good to Share: 12 Best SUBSTITUTES for PROCESSED SUGAR in your Recipes appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

1. Agave Nectar

History lesson time: The Aztecs used agave thousands of years ago and praised this syrup as a gift from gods. A derivative of the same plant as tequila (cheers!), this golden sweetener tastes similar to honey and is perfect in hot or iced tea. But be sure to use in moderation—agave’s high fructose content can sometimes cross it in to the dangerfood zone!

2. Maple Syrup

The benefits of maple syrup are aplenty: It comes directly from a plant’s sap and contains over 50 antioxidants. Make sure to grab the real stuff (sorry, Aunt Jemima) and spread it over waffles or use it in homemade granola.

3. Lemon

Fans of gin can skip the extra sugar in a Tom Collins and add an extra lemon squeeze—we promise no one will notice.

4. Honey

Thanks to bees, this scrumptious stuff packs an antioxidant punch. Enjoy some in hot tea to help soothe a scratchy throat, or get creative and add a spoonful to homemade salad dressing.

5. Applesauce

Instead of a half-cup white sugar in a batch of oatmeal cookies, swap in an equal amount of applesauce! The natural sweetness from a Golden Delicious or Fuji apple is perfect in an after-dinner treat. Purchase the no sugar-added kind, or make some at home.

6. Erythritol

This sugar alcohol is practically a guilt-free sweet solution. (And the FDA says it’s safe!) At 0.2 calories per gram, the white powder from a plant occurs naturally in many fruits. Plus, it doesn’t lead to tooth decay and other not-so-sweet effects of sugar consumption. It’s not quite as sweet as natural sugar, so try it in chocolate baked goods like brownies.

Learn about more healthy “sweeteners” on the next page …

Next Page »

The post Here are my TOP 12 HEALTHY SUBSTITUTES for Processed Sugar appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

13. Grapefruit

For a daily dose of vitamin C, opt for grapefruit juice in a cocktail over soda or tonic water. It’ll add a sweet and sour kick to any beverage.

14. Coconut Sugar

Get a little tropical and use coconut sugar in a fruit smoothie. Made from the sap of coconut flowers, this natural sugar comes in block, paste, or granulated form. Plus, it’s loaded with potassium, which helps keep our bones strong.

15. Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup comes from (you guessed it!) brown rice. More nutritious than its high-fructose alternative, this buttery and nutty flavored syrup is perfect in granola bars and baked breads.

16. Rapadura

This sweet treat’s made from sugar cane but skips the refining stage, so it retains vitamins and minerals lost when white sugar is processed. Keep the one-to-one ratio when swapping rapadura for sugar in baked goods.

Learn about more heathy “sweeteners” on the next page …

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The post More Healthy Substitutes for Processed Sugar appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

Here are a dozen healthy “sweeteners” that you may want to try as replacements for unhealthy processed sugar and high-calorie artificial sweeteners. These are just a handful of the healthy sources of sweet ingredients that Laura has identified. After reading through this list, there’s more!

1. Agave Nectar

History lesson time: The Aztecs used agave thousands of years ago and praised this syrup as a gift from gods. A derivative of the same plant as tequila (cheers!), this golden sweetener tastes similar to honey and is perfect in hot or iced tea. But be sure to use in moderation—agave’s high fructose content can sometimes cross it in to the dangerfood zone!

2. Maple Syrup

The benefits of maple syrup are aplenty: It comes directly from a plant’s sap and contains over 50 antioxidants. Make sure to grab the real stuff (sorry, Aunt Jemima) and spread it over waffles or use it in homemade granola.

3. Lemon

Fans of gin can skip the extra sugar in a Tom Collins and add an extra lemon squeeze—we promise no one will notice.

4. Honey

Thanks to bees, this scrumptious stuff packs an antioxidant punch. Enjoy some in hot tea to help soothe a scratchy throat, or get creative and add a spoonful to homemade salad dressing.

Learn about more healthy “sweeteners” on the next page …

Next Page »

The post 12 Healthy Substitutes for Sugar appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

 

ASPARTAME

Found in: Canderel, Silver Spoon Sweetness & Light, Tesco granulated sweetener, Diet Coke Muller Light.
 
Two hundred times sweeter than sugar, aspartame is made from two amino acids (protein building blocks) joined together.
 
It’s widely used in zero-calorie diet drinks – often alongside another sweetener, acesulfame K, as the two taste better together.
 
Aspartame also comes as a powder or as tablets and you can drop 3,600 calories in a month or a pound in weight by using the tablets in place of two teaspoons of sugar in three cuppas a day.
 
Methanol is a breakdown product of aspartame that is toxic at high levels but the amount formed from a diet drink is less than a tenth of that formed from a fruit juice of the same size, according to the American Cancer Society.

 
Read about more sweeteners on the next page …

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The post Which Sugar Substitute is Best? appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.