♥Sweetners provided naturally by our Creator♥ Xylitol If the name rings a bell, that’s because you can already find it in chewing gum. Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar (five carbon atoms in the molecule) unlike most other sugars, which have six. This subtle difference means it helps prevent the growth of bacteria. It is found naturally in fibrous fruits and vegetables, corn cobs, and some hardwood trees - even our own bodies produce it. Although it does cost more than sugar, it’s a healthier alternative.Coconut SugarCoconuts are in vogue, particularly in the US, where a recent boom in the sale of coconut water has dovetailed with a growth in demand for coconut sugar. Sap from the coconut palm is heated to evaporate its water content and reduce it to usable granules. Coconut sugar is nutritious and has a low score on the glycemic index, which means you don’t get a buzz followed by a crash. It tastes similar to brown sugar but is slightly richer. You can substitute coconut sugar for traditional sugar pretty much wherever you use the latter. Once tapped for sap, the trees can go on producing for 20 years and produce more sugar per hectare than sugar cane. Sugar Made from, as the name would suggest, dried dates; the fruit is dehydrated, then ground to produce the sugar. Retaining many of the nutritional benefits of dates, it has a rich sweet flavour that makes it an ideal alternative to brown sugar. Unfortunately it doesn’t melt and is difficult to dissolve, making it unsuitable for use in drinks and some baking recipes. However it’s a great additional to wholegrain bread.HoneySweeter than sugar, get honey that’s been organically and locally produced to reap the full benefits. Packed with vitamins, honey also has antimicrobial properties. It does have more calories than normal sugar but because it’s sweeter you use less of it. You can add it to your tea if you’re so inclined and works brilliantly in cookies and biscuits. The wide range of honeys out there also give you scope for varying the flavour in cooking.Already a common bottle in many people’s cupboards, maple syrup can be used in place of sugar in most cakes but because it’s liquid you’ll need to reduce other liquids by about a quarter. Boasting a moreishly distinctive taste, the richer the cake the greater the benefits of using maple syrup. And if you want to use it for more than just cooking, you can also get maple sugar, which is made from dehydrated maple syrup. Like coconut sugar, it can replace regular sugar as and when you need it.Fruit juiceFruit is a great source of natural sugar, and comes in a range of strengths and flavours. While we wouldn’t recommend adding orange juice to your tea or coffee, juices are great for adding sweetness to cakes and cookies. You can also experiment to find the juice that perfectly complements your recipe. To get the full effect, make sure you use fresh juice as juice from concentrate loses some of its nutritional content. Also check the label to make sure your juice of choice doesn’t contain any added sugar.Try this: PIP Organic Apple Juice with Cherry, £1.99 at Waitrose, waitroseMolassesThese are by-products of the sugar production process. Although producing sugar from sugar cane has a negative environmental impact, not using all the products only compounds it. Because of the way traditional tabletop sugar is produced (heating the top layer which forms the crystals you have in your bowl), many of the nutritional benefits are left in the molasses. Blackstrap molasses is perhaps the most beneficial and is a good source of iron and calcium. It’s quite thick and viscous and is best used in baking. It is also sweeter than sugar and so you’ll need less. Brown Rice SyrupMade from boiling brown rice, the syrup is gluten and wheat free. More suitable for cooking than adding to tea, it can also be used as a condiment and drizzled over pancakes or porridge. It has a slightly butterscotch flavour to it. Although more heavily processed than some of the others on this list, it does transfer many of the benefits of brown rice to the eater (and without the 25-minute cooking time). Especially good in muffins and salad dressing.Malt SyrupSimilar to molasses in texture, barley malt syrup has, unsurprisingly, a malty taste. This makes it ideal for baking in bread, but for those partial to a spot of home brewing, can also help take the edge off you concoction. It’s also easily digested and has a low glycemic index. It is however not as sweet as sugar, and its distinctive taste makes it a poor choice for tea and coffee.Try this: Organic Clearspring Barley
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 16:57:41 +0000
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