5 Best replacement for Sugar

Sugar Rush is not a good feeling, it gives you an instant high, but crashes and burns easily. Sugar is easily responsible for a lot of diseases in the human body. Therefore, it is best to avoid anything with processed sugar. But we all need some form of sweetness in our lives, therefore, 

Here’s a list of 5 sweeteners that are healthy replacements to white refined sugar –

1. 1. Jaggery: Loaded with minerals and antioxidants, jaggery is an excellent immunity booster and a blood purifier. It helps in the treatment of the symptoms of flu and liver and full-body detox. It is supposed to work as a stomach coolant (it is thus, that gur sharbat happens to be a popular part of the summer-time cool drinks). Along with preventing respiratory ailments and relieving joint pains, it is also an effective aid for weight loss. It is popularly called ‘Medicinal Sugar’ for all the properties it possesses. Jaggery is an active ingredient in our Indian traditional sweets like sheeras, payasams, ladoos and is also used to sweeten sambhars, curries and dals.

2. Honey: Super-rich in antioxidants, honey has both medicinal and culinary uses. Diabetics usually opt for honey over white sugar because it is less harmful in comparison to the latter. It may also assist in the lowering of bad cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It is said improve heart health. Ancient Egyptians used to use honey to heal wounds and burns. It reduces symptoms of cough. With lemon, honey in hot water helps with weight loss. Honey was considered to be a super popular trading commodity in medieval Europe. Honey is used as coatings to crisps, pancakes and as a sweetener in muffins, cakes and pastries.  

3. Khandsari Sugar: Popularly known as Khaand Sugar and native to India, Khandsari sugar is extracted directly from liquid jaggery, which makes it healthier than regular white sugar. It is easily digestible, and is rich in minerals, nutrients and fibres. It aids in blood purification and helps improves digestion, bone health and lung health. You can use this as an alternative in place of regular refined white sugar and as a sweetener in Indian sweets, and in your regular tea and coffee. It is called ‘The Mother of Raw Sugars’.

4. Brown Sugar: Commonly used as a baking ingredient, Brown Sugar contains molasses (and it is this that makes it an alternative to refined white sugar). It is a good source of potassium and contains small amounts of calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin B. It is said to prevent obesity and respiratory ailments, ease menstrual cramps, improve digestion and act as an energy booster. Brown sugar adds colour and taste to baked goods like cakes, pasties and cookies. It also serves as an ingredient in marinades, barbeque sauces and other hot chilli recipes. 

5. Date Sugar: Equivalent to brown sugar, the dominant flavor note in date sugar is similar to that of butterscotch. Consisting of ground and dehydrated dates, it is rich in minerals like magnesium and copper, antioxidants and fibre. It may also be used to treat ailments like constipation, cancer and diabetes. While it is used as a sweetener in baked goods, it also proves to be an excellent topping on oatmeal, yoghurts or muffins. It is also used to sweeten tea and in popular desserts like caramelized bananas.