Alternative Sweeteners to Sugar

Sugar is very addictive. Most people want it. Manufacturers add it to all their products to get people to buy more of their product.

Sugar is also called sucrose. Sucrose is made up of 50% glucose and 50% fructose. Our body runs on glucose. We need it for energy. When we eat glucose it is taken into the blood stream quickly and used for energy. If there is an excess, it is stored in our fat cells. Mmm, that's right, stored in our fat cells. We all know that its favourite fat cells are around the middle of our body.

Fructose, the other 50% of sugar triggers something in our brain to say that we are still hungry. Have you ever opened a block of chocolate with the idea that you will only eat 2 or 3 squares, and before you know it all the chocolate is gone? Same with a bag of lollies. One or 2 are not enough, it is only good enough when you get the bottom of the bag and you just know you have to stop.

The good news is that there are natural ways to have sweeteners where you don't have to have fructose too. When your brain is not telling you that you want more you will find that your craving for sweets will disappear.

Now we know that everybody is different, so everybody will take a different length of time to lose their sugar craving. Also be your own detective and look for hidden sugars in your food. This can be done more easily if you familiarize yourself with all the different names that are given to sugar.

Natural Fructose Free Sweeteners

Glucose powder is a fructose free sweetener. It is also called dextrose. It is used in making beer and is made from corn.

Stevia is a plant which is very sweet. Its leaves are used as a sweetener. It can be used to flavour your tea or coffee or baked goods.

Rice syrup is fructose free. It is a brown liquid that is good to use in baking or to pour over your pancakes or dessert.

Tapioca syrup is another fructose free product similar to rice syrup.

Monk Fruit, which is grown in the Asian highlands is a very sweet fruit. In manufacturing, the fructose has been taken out of it. In the product Norbu, it is combined with erythritol. If you are following a FODMAP diet for IBS support, I do not recommend erythrytol.

Other articles about sugar
Fructose and Weight Gain
Is Sugar Killing Us?
The Relationship Between Sugar and Cocaine


References:
articles.mercola.com
http://www.womenshealthmag.com
http://norbusweetener.com.au/
http://www.ibsfree.net/