Other Sweeteners to Consider: Agave and Coconut Palm Sugar

By Amy Campbell Our fondness for all things sweet is ingrained in us. References to our desire for foods like honey date back thousands of years. And there's nothing wrong with that, unless you happen to indulge a little too often. There's also the dilemma that some people face regarding whether to use a "nonnutritive" (noncaloric) sweetener, such as aspartame or sucralose, or something more "natural" (including real sugar). People debate and struggle with this choice all the time, and while we don't really have an answer, the good news is that it's led to more research on sweeteners of all types and their effects on health, appetite, and weight. More to choose from Recently, other types of sweeteners have grown in popularity. There's a push toward foods and food products that are less refined, that contain fewer chemicals or artificial ingredients, and that may even have less impact on blood glucose (for those who have diabetes). Here are a few that you may have read or heard about and perhaps wondered if you should try. That decision is up to you, of course, but at least you'll have a few facts under your belt to help you out. Agave nectar If you enjoy a good margarita, you might be interested to know that agave nectar is derived from the agave plant, including the blue agave from which tequila is made. Agave nectar is available in light, amber, dark, and raw varieties and is used in place of honey or sugar in recipes. You'll also see agave nectar in a variety of food produ...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs