Sugar Substitutes: A Comparison

We all know that sugar is bad for you. But some of the sugar substitutes on the market are tasteless and don’t really work. So what can you use to replace sugar to help you cut it out of your diet so that you can lose weight?

• Splenda – This is the obvious choice. It is one of the most popular sweeteners on the market today, and can be used in tea, coffee, and baking. Recently there have been some studies done about the safety of Splenda, and as yet there is no conclusion over its long term affects on the body.
• Honey – This is a natural alternative to sugar. It can be used in baking, and especially for those cakes that you want to be a bit gooey when you are done baking them. Honey is also sweeter than sugar, so be aware of this and either use less than you would sugar, or add a tiny bit of baking powder to neutralize it a bit.
• Maple syrup – This comes from the sap of the maple tree. It is only about 60% as sweet as sugar, but use a bit less when baking with maple syrup. It is very runny and so can change the state of your batter.
• Fructose -  This white sugar substitute is available in the granular or syrup form and is a derivative of the natural sugars you will find present in fruits.

These are only a few ways to cut down the amount of sugar you intake. To encourage weight loss you should take a look at all elements of your diet, and cut out anything with too much sugar in. Start eating less white sugar and replace it with other forms of sugar when you’re looking for something sweet.  Remove temptation from your path and instead, make the other stuff more easily available. Keep fruit boxes out on your counter for snacking on, and a jug of fresh maple syrup in the fridge!