Sugar is a carbohydrate biomolecule, an energy source with a sweet taste that dissolves readily in water. It has many uses, such as seasoning food. The most widely used type is sucrose, or granulated sugar.
Sucrose, or granulated sugar, is an industrial product made from sugar cane in tropical regions and from sugar beet in temperate regions. The production process is similar for both: the sugar solution is extracted, filtered, boiled to evaporate the water, and finally crystallised into small grains of sugar.
Sugar is a kind of addictive substance, not unlike the caffeine in coffee. When we consume sugar, the brain releases a "happy chemical" called dopamine, making us crave the pleasure we get from eating sugar. This can lead to a growing sugar habit, and eating too much may increase the risk of disease.
For better health, try natural sweeteners in place of granulated sugar. Here are some options.
1. Stevia
Stevia sugar or syrup is widely used in the food industry and among health-conscious people. This herb is up to 450 times sweeter than granulated sugar and tastes similar. Its sweet extract, stevioside, is low in calories, making it a good choice for people who want to control their weight or blood sugar, especially clean eaters and vegetarians who avoid processed ingredients.
2. Date Sugar
Many people assume date sugar is a sugar extracted from dates, but it is actually dried dates sold in packs. Dates can be used to sweeten desserts, giving about the same sweetness as brown sugar but with a mellower taste. What makes dates superior is their dietary fibre, which helps prevent constipation, and their very high antioxidant content, compared with regular sugar, which contains almost no vitamins or minerals.
3. Monk Fruit Sweetener
This fruit (known in Thai as luo han guo) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and is another alternative to sugar. It is up to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar yet has zero calories, because its sweetness comes from natural compounds called mogrosides, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it a good option for people trying to lose weight and for people with diabetes.
4. Honey
Honey contains many antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and leave you feeling refreshed. It also has a sweet, fragrant, mellow flavour, which is why it is popular in bakery recipes and drinks. Delicious and beneficial as it is, do not overdo it: honey's sweetness is so concentrated that just 1 teaspoon is as sweet as 3 teaspoons of sugar.
It is hard to resist sweetness, but we can choose which sugars we eat for the benefit of our health.
