Better Sugar Welcomes You

You're asking yourself, "Isn't refined sugar just fine? That's what I've been using my whole life." It is true that you may have used refined sugar all of your life, but that doesn't mean it's healthy for you. White, refined sugar is highly processed and is a simple carbohydrate which means it is not good for your body. Better sugar is available.

Refined sugar looks and tastes so innocent, you wouldn't even know that it is not very good for you.

Refined sugar is one of those foods that provides absolutely no nutritional value, but it does provide some other things. Refined sugar gives you lots of calories, which turn into fat. It also raises the insulin level in your blood which is never good, but raised insulin levels can also make you gain weight. Notice a trend? While your body is busy trying to process the sugar, cholesterol and fatty acids aren't being metabolized properly, which leads to higher triglycerides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. None of that sounds appealing. In fact, it's quite shocking, and depressing, to know that the sweet, little cupcake you just ate is turning into a monster inside your body.

You may be thinking that since refined sugar is in almost everything we buy off the supermarket shelves it can't be harmful. In fact, refined sugar IS harmful, and you would be wise to stay away from it. If you have a sweet tooth and need a sugar fix, there are other ways to get your sugar besides grocery store goodies packed with refined sugar. Yes, prepackaged foods provide much needed convenience, but the health problems they cause due to refined sugar are not convenient at all. Spending a little time in the kitchen preparing your desserts will really benefit your health and the health of your family.

Recipes have been geared towards refined sugar for centuries, but there is no rule that says we have to use it. There are ways to eliminate plain old refined sugar and still have a tasty treat. Try using natural sugar substitutes like Brown Rice Syrup, Agave Nectar, Erythritol, and Turbinado. These natural sugars are not made from chemicals and are not processed the same way as refined sugar. They are all produced in different ways, but each way ensures the least amount of processing, thus creating better sugars. Natural sugars, for the most part, are more complex carbohydrates than refined sugar and are processed better by your body. They also tend to have lower glycemic index levels than refined sugar, making them ideal for diabetics. From personal experience, I can say that I have tried each type of natural sugar on this website, and I like them all. Each one is unique and is good for different purposes. I would say the best thing about each of these natural sugars is the fact that they add sweetness to your recipe without altering the flavor.

Liquid Natural Sugars:

Brown Rice Syrup and Agave Nectar are liquid forms of natural sugar. Brown rice syrup is very similar to honey in texture, appearance, and flavor. Agave Nectar is thinner than honey and has a neutral flavor.

Granulated Natural Sugars:

Erythritol and Turbinado are granulated natural sugars. Erythritol is extremely similar to refined sugar in appearance and flavor. Turbinado is also known as raw sugar. It has larger crystals than refined sugar and it has a golden color.

Whichever natural sugar you decide to use, be sure to experiment with it and try it in different recipes. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results. And don't forget to throw away your refined sugar!