Sugar is an integral part of our lives. It’s now well known that processed sugars are not good for your health, so it’s best to avoid them as much as possible. Refined sugars are responsible for many diseases and health problems, including cancer, tooth decay, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and poor brain function.
A few decades ago, when the information that refined sugar was unhealthy burst into the public consciousness, tons of artificial sweeteners were introduced, which were later shown to be very seriously harmful to health. Amongst other things, they can be a cause of bladder cancer, brain tumours and other cancers, and can even cause weight gain.
There are still sweeteners that contain harmful substances, but we would do well to beware of them. A better alternative is to continue to consume refined sugar but drastically reduce the daily intake. There are, however, natural sweeteners that are also very good for sweetening foods, cakes and desserts and are not even harmful to health. Here are some of them.
One of the most popular natural sweeteners is raw honey. It is full of vitamin B6, enzymes, zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, antioxidants, phosphorus, niacin and riboflavin. Honey also has antibacterial properties and is a great sweetening alternative.
Dates are also a good option for sweetening and are very healthy, containing high levels of magnesium, potassium, copper and iron. As it supports the absorption of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, it is easy to digest. Dates lower cholesterol levels, which may also reduce the risk of stroke.
Stevia is a sweet plant that can also be used to sweeten drinks and food. 200 times sweeter than sugar, it is a perfect natural sweetener, with no carbohydrates or calories and none of the side effects of artificial sweeteners.
Bananas are rich in fibre and potassium and are an excellent source of vitamins B6 and C. This sweet fruit is not only delicious but also an ideal natural sweetener.
