Types of Natural Sweeteners

There are many types of natural sweeteners that are helpful in preventing sugar spikes or at least keeping them at a minimum. However, many of them are unknown to most people. I thought of a few that would be of particular interest to those that need to watch blood sugar levels as well as those just looking to use a sweetener that has some nutritional value. I've learned about a number of them over the years of being involved in alternative health with my own health food store.

Agave Nectar

Agave what? Agave nectar is somewhat obscure to a lot of folks but it is widely used in the alternative health field. We often advocate this sweetener because it is composed of mostly fructose, making it ideal for keeping lower glycemic indexes. It's also tasty in tea and in many hot beverages.

Barley Malt

This sweetener is derived from grains that are sprouted and kiln dried then cooked in water. The result of this process is a syrup that is mildly sweet partnered with a rich malt type of flavor. This is a great natural sweetener for baking, and is frequently used in many types of soy products. In fact, one of my favorite ice cream treats made from soy milk is sweetened with barley malt, and I find it quite satisfying. This sweetener is also digested slower than standard refined sugars and therefore will not cause blood sugar types.

Sorghum

Derived from a grain closely related to millet, sorghum is a natural sweetener that has an appearance similar to that of corn. Extracted juice from the grain becomes syrup like after being boiled down and the flavor and texture of this sweetener is similar to molasses.

Stevia

From a plant native to Brazil this natural sweetener is primarily used in many hot beverages. It is known for being 30 times sweeter than sugar so you'll want to use it sparingly. The standard dosage for its use is 2 drops of Stevia to 1 hot cup of your favorite tea or other hot beverage. This sweetener is also popular for those who have candida and yeast related conditions. It's also a good choice for baking.

Date Sugar

The real deal here. Real dates, pulverized and coarsely ground to make a great natural sweetener for baking and cooking. Not only do you get the real whole dates with this sweetener, you also get the nutritional value from them as well.