8 Healthy Alternatives to Sweeten Your Sugar
Coffee has many benefits, but adding the wrong sweetener, the benefits will amount to nothing. Also, it has antioxidants and research shows that it is effective in preventing weight gain. Therefore, if you need to use a sweetener, you need to know the best to choose. It can be a low-fat creamer or the monk fruit that is gaining popularity. What is a monk fruit sweetener? This fruit extract is a better alternative to sugar for it has no calories, fat, sodium, and carbohydrate. This and others below are some of the healthy ways you can sweeten your coffee.
- Honey
Honey is not only for tea but it can be used in coffee too. It tastes delicious and sweet in coffee if you need an alternative to sugar. Therefore, using honey as your sweetener is a great way to also get honey’s health benefits. Buy local honey as it prevents allergies and it is a natural source of antioxidants and energy. Importantly, confirm if there any additives to your honey as you purchase it that make it less healthy.
- Coconut sugar
The wonders of coconut are many. As you drink coconut juice to hydrate, coconut milk for lactose intolerance, and use coconut oil for cooking and the skin. Now, you can use coconut sugar as an alternative to normal sugar as its increases in popularity. It has a low glycemic index too. Additionally, just like any other coconut product, coconut sugar also has a taste of coconut. Which can be a turn-off to some but a selling point to others.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
Do you love mochas, then you will enjoy your coffee by having your cocoa and drinking it too with no sugar? Although the unsweetened cocoa does not have the taste of the sweetened cocoa. It will come in handy if you are trying to cut sugar out of your coffee or out of your diet. Add a spoon or two of unsweetened cocoa to make a cup of coffee filled with chocolatey goodness.
- Agave
Derived from cacti, agave nectar is a good alternative to sugar for your coffee as it is a natural sweetener. It is popular among health fanatics although it has high levels of fructose, for it has a low glycemic index. Therefore, agave is still a better sweetener to your coffee if you are avoiding using sugar.
- Stevia
In the market, stevia is known as the sugar substitute. Thus, many people think it is artificial but it is not. It is a plant derivative, a plant that is native in paraguay and brazil although it comes in powder form. In comparison to other sugar alternatives, stevia does not have a funky aftertaste. Plus, you might not notice that it is not sugar.
- Maple syrup
Turns out maple syrup is not only for pancakes, but you can use it in your coffee as well. Plus, the maple flavor is an ideal addition, more so during the cold seasons. Pick some maple syrup and confirm that it is not diluted with corn syrup as it has high fructose. By doing this, you do not offset the health benefits you are getting.
- Cinnamon
The distinct flavor of the cinnamon spice is often paired with coffee. Although not everyone likes it, its flavor adds a dimension to your coffee. Try this if you want something sweet but bold. Opt for Ceylon cinnamon for it is more common. Also, you will benefit from the health properties of cinnamon, such as lowering blood sugar.
- Vanilla
The vanilla spice comes from the vanilla plant. Due to its popular flavor, it is used to sweeten drinks and food. It is a better alternative to sugar in your coffee and using it in its natural form is better to enjoy its benefits. It has anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and cholesterol-reducing properties.
To conclude, the above are healthy alternatives that you can use to sweeten your coffee. This will help with getting the sweet taste you crave with no health effects. If the coffee does not taste right still, it may not be that its lacking sugar, but you have missed out on how to make good coffee.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
