Lifestyle Lament: Sugar Substitutes

     People who try to reduce their sugar intake face a dilemma.  They must choose from an ever expanding array of  of sugar substitutes.    We know that deprivation  in our diet can lead to binge eating.  The more forbidden the fruit  the greater the desire.  Sugar  is one of the most addictive substances know to man and women, too!. 

      Here is my short list of the most natural sugar stand-ins  available:

• Stevia Root is an herb that comes from central and south America.  It is 40 times sweeter than regular sugar but can possess  a bitter aftertaste.  The newer strain  seems to have solved that problem by using the  sweetest part of the plant.  However,  Stevia is not recommended for baking.  You can purchase a form of Stevia in most supermarkets and health food stores.
• Whey Low is a  sugar substitute is made of three sugars.  It contains fructose from fruit,  table sugar (I.e. sucrose)  and lactose.  When the sugars are all blended together they interact so that they aren't completely absorbed by the body.  It has one quarter of the calories of sugar and one third of the Glycemic index of sugar resulting in no sugar crash after consumption. It can be used in place of sugar in most baking recipes using the same amount.  It can be purchased online and/or at wheylow.com.wheylow.com
• Xylitol  is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in beets, berries and corn.  Sugar alcohol is not digested well in the body so they can have a laxative  affect.    That is why it does not raise sugar levels in the blood. So it's both good and bad news.   It can be used for baking.  It is recommended that you use half the amount of sugar used in recipes.  It can be purchased in health food stores or online.  
• Agave Nectar is a sugar substitute that comes from the same plant used to make tequila.  At 20 cal a teaspoon it is more caloric then sugar but because it is sweeter you can use less.  When baking it it is it is advised that you use one third the amount that you would use for sugar because of its sweetness.  It is recommended that you lower the oven temperature because of increased browning.  There has been some concern over the high fructose content  in agave similar to high fructose corn syrup.

     There are other sugar substitutes on the market but studies have shown that they have dubious  side effects on our health.  The above choices are said to be the most healthy alternatives to sugar if you're going to use a substitute at all.  Some just eliminate all sugars and substitute various foods and change their texture to appease sugar cravings and slow down blood sugar metabolism.

Bottom Line:  Let common sense prevail.  If something disagrees with you, discontinue use.

This can be made with black beans and dates instead of sugar.