Article Written By: Esther George
Today, a lot of the so called natural sweeteners out there marketed as a sugar substitute are actually not natural but are made using artificial components that have potential side effects. In other to make the right health decisions regarding your choice of sweeteners, you would have to educate yourself. A Sugar substitute is defined as any other type of sweetener that is not just 100% sugar. It can be a combination of sugar with other products either natural or artificial to create an end product that is a substitute to sugar. There is a lot of confusion regarding sugar alternatives especially, with the use of the word natural in labels.
A natural sweetener means free from preservatives and or additives. This should be the case however many sugar substitutes out there that claim to be natural are not really due to the presence of other artificial content. If you are concerned about your health when looking for a sugar substitute that is a natural sweetener then you have to ensure that it does not contain any artificial content as this do have side effects. The major health concern with synthetic sweeteners is that they have been linked to cancer.
In some studies, sugar substitutes have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Also the use of such sweeteners has also been shown to cause weight gain. This is a vital point to notice since so many folks use substitutes as a way to avoid the empty calories of sugar and to aid in weight reduction. One sugar substitute that comes in its natural form and is free from all additives is honey.
Honey is a natural sweetener that can be used both in its liquid form or dried as honey crystals. This is a healthier choice and can be used as an alternative to sugar every where you would used a sweetener. Another advantage of honey as a sweetener is that it tastes good. Many synthetic sweeteners have a bad after taste and they really do not compare to sugar. Honey, on the other hand, tastes good. In fact, honey compares quite nicely to sugar. It can be employed in baking, it's got a pleasing taste and it is simple to use.
When choosing a sugar substitute you've got to think smart. There is a lot that is still unknown about artificial sweeteners, which is kind of frightful, considering the recent concerns to come to light. If you actually don't desire to incorporate sugar in your diet, then the best natural sweetener to use as an alternative is honey.You get something you know is safe and that you know will taste great.
Like to try out a new sugar substitute that is an organic natural sweetener? then visit the Mama Healthy website to see what is in store for you.
This Article Has Been Published on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 and Read 294 Times