Tag: Natural sweetener

For centuries, honey has been celebrated across cultures for its medicinal properties, often combined with tea to create a soothing elixir. While the combination is a popular home remedy for various ailments, ensuring you prepare it correctly is key to preserving its benefits.

According to the USDA, a 100-gram serving of dates offers over 6 grams of fiber and a significant amount of natural sugars, making them a fantastic natural sweetener. This means you can absolutely put dates in my protein shake to boost its nutritional value and flavor.

While agave nectar is derived from a plant traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory properties, experts note that the highly processed syrup sold commercially is not the same as the raw plant extracts. This processing significantly alters its chemical composition, leading to a high fructose content that can actually promote inflammation in the body.

With a rich history dating back centuries in Peru, algarrobina has long been cherished for its culinary versatility and purported health benefits. This dark, molasses-like syrup, extracted from the pods of the black carob tree, is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

A study in *Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases* indicates that a high-sugar diet, even from natural sources like honey, can lead to insulin resistance. While prized for its antioxidants and natural sweetness, you aren't supposed to eat a lot of honey because of the risks associated with excessive sugar consumption.

While the delicate orange blossom itself contains only trace amounts of natural sugars, its various processed forms can have drastically different sugar contents, from sugar-free orange blossom water to sugar-rich orange blossom honey. Understanding these differences is key for culinary and health purposes.

According to a 2011 study published in *Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry*, orange blossom honey contains a rich profile of flavonoids like quercetin and hesperitin. This floral-specific honey is often touted for its unique health benefits, leading many to wonder: is orange blossom honey better for you?

While it's commonly thought of as an industrial ingredient, glycerol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in various fats and oils. As a food additive, it is used for its sweetening, moisture-retaining, and thickening properties. The question, 'Is glycerol a natural sweetener?' has a nuanced answer, depending on its source and the manufacturing process.

In a 2023 study published in *News-Medical.net*, research on animal models suggested that substituting refined sugar with maple syrup might offer some metabolic benefits. But beyond these preliminary findings, is Grade A maple syrup good for you, or is it just another sugar with a better marketing campaign?

While both dextrose and stevia are used as sweeteners, a key difference is that dextrose is a simple sugar that spikes blood glucose, whereas pure stevia has a glycemic index of zero. This fundamental distinction dictates their different applications and health implications, especially for those managing blood sugar levels.