Thursday, November 13, 2014

Are there sweeteners which are natural and not harmful?

There are 3 natural sugar substitutes which do not cause harm and are therefore excellent alternatives to sucrose (table sugar).

1) Stevia: Is plant based and about 250-300 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). It is heat stable, PH stable, and non-fermentable. It can be used in cooking and baking but because it is so strong, much less should be used.

2) Sugar Alcohols (SA): The most popular brand of SA is Xylitol and is made from adding hydrogen to sugar; consequently it looks like sugar but with less calories and glycemic load. SA also acts as an antibacterial so is often used in chewing gum to promote dental health.

3) Erthritol: This is often used as a substitute for Xylitol and is made by fermenting glucose with yeast. It's 60-70% as sweet as sucrose but is almost calorie free and does not affect blood sugar. Like Xylitol it doesn't promote tooth decay. 

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