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| A bowl of white granulated sugar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
We eat refined sugars everyday and many may not be aware that they are hidden in just about every type of food you put into your mouth.
It is used in confectioneries, baked products, drinks but it is also hidden in breads, cereals, dairy products, and even sandwich meat.
Processed foods, snacks, fast food, beverages and canned foods are loaded with sugar and salt, the two main culprits if consumed frequently can cause various diseases affecting our kidneys, blood pressure and heart.
Increasing numbers of people are suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart related diseases and obesity.
Why is white sugar used so often and in such a wide range of foods?
The simple reason is that white sugar leaves you wanting more. It triggers cravings as white sugar can create a sort of nutritional deficit in your body. This is what the companies that make sugar-laden products do not tell you and it is exactly what they are hoping for from the consumers.
It is time to turn the tables and do your body a favor. Why not try some natural sweeteners instead? Natural sweeteners not only can boost your energy, it also possesses some vitamins and minerals.
Opt to choose from these five natural sweeteners as alternatives when it comes the time for a little sweetness in your diet.
Five Natural Sugars
- Coconut Sugar(Gula Melaka) or also known as coco sugar and coco sap sugar is made from the sap of cut flower buds of coconut trees. Go for unrefined coconut sugar as it is rich in antioxidands and phytonutrients.
If you suffer from hypertension or diabetes, please consult your doctor before taking coconut sugar.
- Licorice is a syrup made from the roots of "Glycyrrhiza glabra" plants. The benefits of taking licorice is that it can help your body cope with stress, supports your adrenal glands and balances sex hormones.
Licorice naturally raises blood pressure. If you suffer from low blood pressure, you may find this sweetener beneficial.
However, if you have high blood pressure, do consult your doctor before taking licorice.
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| Various liquorice root slivers (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
- Stevia is another natural sweetener that is derived from a plant that grows in South America. Fresh Stevia possesses antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. It is also considered to be anti-inflammatory and according to medical experts, can be safely consumed by diabetics.
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| Stevia rebaudiana flowers (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Stevia is a no-calorie sweetener extracted from the leaf of a plant grown in Paraguay and Brazil. The ingredients in stevia that make it sweet include the plant chemicals stevioside, rebaudiosides, and dulcoside A. Stevia is about 30 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved stevia for use as a food additive in the United States — not as a sweetener — so there was no official acceptable daily intake for this additive. However, based on safety studies in rats, a daily intake of 8 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (4 milligrams per pound of body weight) is considered safe. One packet usually contains 80 mg of stevia. So, you can safely use stevia within this dose limitation.
Rebaudioside A is a specific extract of the stevia plant that is the sweetest (about 350 times sweeter than table sugar) and has the least bitter aftertaste of the components of stevia. In December 2008, the FDA approved several rebaudioside A-based products for sale, including the sweeteners Truvia and Purevia. These products have an acceptable daily intake of up to 4 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
(Excerpt from http://www.everydayhealth.com)
- Brown rice syrup is made from cooking sprouted and pre-cooked grains together. The end product is a syrup that has a pleasing butterscotch taste that also contains some vitamins and minerals.
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| Brown Sugar Photo credit Wikipedia |
- Raw honey contains no added white sugar. Taken directly from the beehive, it is full of minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients. Raw honey contains B2, B6, iron, manganese, enzymes, and amino acids. Like Stevia, raw honey is also a potent antibiotic and antifungal
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| Raw Honey comes from honeycombs |
Source: doctorshealthpress.com
This article serves only to provide information and in no way to be treated as a medical write-up.
Disclaimer
If you are suffering from diabetes, chronic heart diseases, hypertension, or any ailments where sugar should be limited or omitted from your diet, it is best to consult your medical doctor for advise.
My next topic for discussion is, "Ten Common Health Mistakes We All Make"
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