Almost everyone thinks that people who suffer from diabetes should always try as much as possible to avoid eating sugary stuff or sweetened food in general, this is very wrong. Do you know that people who suffer from diabetes can still enjoy the sweet stuff in moderation? Nutritionists have made us understand that the best bet is to use a very minimal amount of real sugar as part of a balanced diabetic diet. With that being said, there are natural sugar supplements that offer that exciting sweetness while keeping carbohydrate intake and blood glucose in control.
There are many natural sugar supplements to choose from, but they are not all free from calories, they also vary in terms of their impact on your blood sugar levels. The major difference in the natural sugar substitute is whether they are nutritive sweeteners or non-nutritive sweeteners, says Melissa Mullins, who is a certified diabetes educator. Non-nutritive sweeteners actually provide no calories and no changes in blood glucose levels, which is definitely perfect for people who suffer from diabetes. Let’s take a look at a few options to consider when it comes to natural sugar supplements.
Honey
One of the best choices available in terms of natural sugar supplements is raw honey. When buying this, you really want to ensure it says “raw…” on the label as this is the healthiest kind. It’s always advisable to purchase it from a local source. Honey is quite amazing because it’s not just a kind of sugar, it’s actually also a food. Honey contains a decent amount of amino acids, antioxidants and antimicrobial elements that to a large extent, support the health of an individual. However, you need to be cautious to not take in too much, just one spoonful a day is an ideal and healthy amount adequate for most people.
Stevia
This is another option that is worthy of consideration; even on a more regular basis, especially if you are one with blood sugar issues, a plus size or have diabetes. It is worthy of mention that you should stick with full, green leaf stevia as there are many types of stevia which include chocolate stevia, vanilla stevia etc. Make sure you choose the most organic type available. One of the fascinating things about stevia is that there is no sugar involved at all and this positions it as one of, if not the best natural sugar supplements or substitutes around. Hence if you suffer from sugar related conditions like diabetes or plan to shed some body weight, this is undeniably your best bet.
Coconut sugar
Coconut sugar is largely organic unrefined sugar and another perfect natural supplement for it. Bakers will find this option very handy. If you are looking for an alternative to one cup of sugar for your baking needs, one cup of coconut sugar will be suitable and should fit into your recipe like a glove. Coconut sugar is gotten from coconut juice and is rich in potassium, electrolytes, and nutrients, so if you are looking for a sweetener that is nontoxic, non-genetically modified with good digestibility, it is your go-to option.
Maple syrup
Undeniably a brilliant natural sugar supplement, maple syrup has saved the lives of our grandparents; well not that they actively plan to live another 50years though, it has surely ensured that they rarely visit the doctor for sugar related problems. Maple syrup has been proven to be a fantastic sweetener and an ideal ingredient for making things like pancakes, waffles and other recipes where an earthy flavor is required. Maple syrup has got so many benefits apart from being a healthy sugar substitute. It is incredibly rich in antioxidants compared to refined white sugar.
Agave nectar
Here is yet another natural sugar supplement. ‘Ah-gah-vay’ (that’s the way it’s pronounced) nectar is considered a traditional sweetener that has been used for hundreds of years. It is quite far from what you are used to buying in gleaming plastic containers from your grocery store. The harvested plant is first crushed, with the juice extracted. Where natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup sweeten and give your meal a distinct flavor, agave nectar simply brings a pure dimensionless sweetness with no strings attached.
Refined sugar is bad for you, hence, all of the above should be considered and chosen ahead of refined white table sugar which most people are still very much used to. On the other hand, raw and unrefined sugar, otherwise known as brown sugar still retains some natural nutrients such as iron, magnesium etc. and is, therefore, a far better sugar choice. This natural granulated sugar is golden in color, has a similar taste to honey and is free of any kind of chemicals or pesticides.
So before you pour that cup of sugar into that meal, make sure you have adequately weighed your options. The above-mentioned options could conveniently pass for healthy sugar substitutes suitable for diabetics.
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Candida
Now let’s briefly discuss a very important sugar-related health threat known as Candida. Now you’ll wonder for a moment what Candida is and how it relates to our discourse. Candida is a fungus infection that tends to live harmlessly within the body system of individuals, in other words, Candida is a bad idea all day long. Now how does this information concern natural sugar supplements; you might want to ask.
Candida thrives in body tissues and sugars from food and could quickly monopolize the entire body systems such as the digestive tract, causing moderate to severe symptoms. So in essence, any individual who is fond of consuming sugary stuff, especially refined white table sugar, is at risk of harboring Candida in his or her body system.
What’s the remedy?
The anti – candida diet: With sugar being one of the main causes of Candida development, a viable treatment plan would be a low-sugar diet. Unfortunately, the modern western diet is absolutely full of sugar. The Candida yeast cells need sugar to build cell walls, expand their colonies and transform into their fungal form. The anti-candida diet is pretty important as it is a more advanced form of balanced diet, but one that eliminates excess sugar, starchy veggies, caffeine and just about any food with high Glycemic load. This diet is carefully designed to starve the Candida of food, yet; giving the host individual all the nutrition he or she needs. Some food items to consider when preparing an anti-candida diet are coconut oil, garlic, seaweed, ginger, lemons and limes, pumpkin seeds, cayenne pepper etc.