We’ve come a long way, baby. Gone are the days of stirring no-calorie chemical sweeteners into our morning coffee. We want our food to come from natural sources we recognize. However, we still have many choices beyond ordinary table sugar. How to choose?
We’ve broken down some of the popular options so you can get your sweet tooth on. Please note that these will never be true “health food” as they all will spike your blood sugar and should always be enjoyed in moderation.
HONEY
What is it? A liquid regurgitation made from bees with nectar from flowers.
Pros: Honey works well for baking, as well as sweetening coffee and tea, and can be used as a soothing treatment for coughs and colds. Some believe that local pasteurized honey alleviates pollen allergies (but more likely local bee pollen in small amounts can reduce an immune system response to pollen).
Cons: Honey is not vegan or diabetic friendly. It should not be given to infants under one year of age for the threat of botulism (a rare but fatal paralytic illness caused by a bacterium that can be found in honey). Although 2% of honey is vitamins and minerals, you would have to have a significant amount (one cup a day!) in order to make a dent in any of your recommended daily intake, which would significantly increase your blood sugar.
BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES
What is it? The by-product from processing sugar cane or beet into table sugar.
Pros: Blackstrap molasses has a low glycemic index. It also offers a high quantity of iron (one tablespoon has 20% of the RDA) and has high amounts of calcium, magnesium and potassium. It’s safe for vegans and can be used to sweeten coffee or tea.
Cons: Molasses has a very distinctive flavour and colour that will affect most baked goods. It does not have Vitamin C, which helps with iron absorption, so it's best to take the vitamin on the side.
MAPLE SYRUP
What is it? Syrup made from the sap of maple trees.
Pros: Pouring syrup is a source of Canadian pride, as well as manganese and zinc. It’s a vegan food, and ¼ cup of maple syrup carries as many antioxidants as a raw tomato. Most maple syrup is more or less organic in the sense that fertilizers and pesticides are barely needed to tap maple trees.
Cons: As it's mostly sucrose it is best to have in moderation. Although it has some vitamins and minerals, under no circumstances does this make the Maple Syrup Diet a healthy idea (what were you thinking, Beyonce?). There are also many imitations of maple syrup, so make sure you choose the real deal.
MEDJOOL DATES
What is it? A fruit harvested from the date palm, and dried. Medjool dates are prized for their meatiness and distinct sweetness.
Pros: A portable sweet snack (“nature’s candy”), medjool dates are loaded with fibre. They contain more polyphonels than bananas or apples. They can be blended into smoothies or boiled and added to desserts. They’re a fabulous choice for people on the raw food diet.
Cons: With a significant amount of fruit sugar and a higher glycemic index, it’s best to keep to the serving of two or three. Pairing with a few almonds or nuts will help to lower the glycemic index. Since they’re sticky, they can dry out quickly and can attract insects and dust – make sure to store them properly.
RAW AGAVE NECTAR
What is it? Sap harvested from the blue agave plants that are found in the volcanic soils of Southern Mexico.
Pros: Agave is very easy to cook and bake with and is often touted as having a very low glycemic index (27 as opposed to honey at 83). It’s seen as the vegan alternative to honey. It’s sweeter than sugar, so it is easier to use less. Agave has a high quantity of inulin, short chains of fructose molecules with unusual nutritional characteristics such as increasing calcium absorption, while encouraging beneficial probiotic flora.
Cons: Although it’s less processed than other sweeteners, it’s still processed. Katherine Feeney advises “Don’t touch the caramel coloured stuff.” It’s very high in fructose, which is metabolized by the liver and can prove dangerous when concentrated amounts are eaten. It should not be seen as a health food.
The naturally-sweet life indeed.
