Tag: Healthier sugar alternative

Honey has been used for medicinal purposes for over 5,000 years, with ancient texts highlighting its healing properties. The natural sweetener contains a unique combination of sugars, water, and beneficial compounds that have garnered attention for their health-supporting qualities, especially when compared to refined table sugar.

Date powder and date sugar are both made from dried dates and are valued as natural sweeteners. However, their production methods and final textures differ significantly, which impacts how they should be used in the kitchen.

According to Ayurvedic tradition, shakkar is not merely a sweetener but a medicinal food used for centuries to treat various ailments. The benefits of shakkar stem from its unrefined nature, which helps it retain essential vitamins and minerals lost during the processing of white sugar.

Made by boiling the sap of various palm trees, palm sugar is not a single product but a category that includes several types, each with its own unique characteristics. Unlike heavily processed refined sugar, this natural sweetener is known for its rich flavor profile, impressive mineral content, and culinary versatility.

According to traditional Ayurvedic practices, mishri is considered a healthier, more natural alternative to refined white sugar. This belief stems from its minimal processing and perceived cooling properties. However, modern nutritional science provides a more nuanced picture when questioning, 'is mishri safer than sugar?'

According to the USDA, white sugar has a glycemic index of 65, while maple syrup's is 54, indicating a slower impact on blood sugar levels. This difference is one reason many people wonder, "Is it healthier to replace sugar with maple syrup?". The answer involves examining their nutritional profiles, processing methods, and overall impact on health.

Dextrose has a glycemic index (GI) of 100, meaning it raises blood sugar more rapidly than regular table sugar (sucrose), which has a GI of 65. The question of which is healthier, sugar or dextrose, is not straightforward and relies heavily on an individual's specific health goals and timing of consumption.