Natural Sweeteners: Don’t Be Fooled, Find The Natural Sweetener That Works Best For You
If you are currently on a diet for weight loss or due to a medical condition, you may be kicking around the idea of using natural sweeteners instead of sugar. This subject can be confusing when you do not have the information you need to make the decision that is right for you. The following should help you learn just a little about the difference between natural sweeteners so you can figure out which one or ones that fit into your lifestyle.
* Sugar: Has a Glycemic Index of 60 and 4 calories per gram
* Xylitol: Has a Glycemic Index of 13 and 2 and a half calories per gram
* Sorbitol: Has a Glycemic Index of 9 and 2 and a half calories per gram
* Isomalt: Has a Glycemic Index of 8 and 2.1 calories per gram
* Maltitol Syrup: Has a Glycemic Index of 52 and 3 calories per gram
* Lactitol: Has a Glycemic Index of 6 and 3 calories per gram
* Erythritol: Has a Glycemic Index of 0 and .2 calories per gram
Of the available natural sweeteners recognized as safe to consume there is really only one that stands above the rest. When comparing the Glycemic Index and carbohydrate levels (not listed) Erythritol seems to be the clear choice. It is interesting to note that the only two that do not cause tooth decay is Xylitol and Erythritol. Flavor would obviously be a very determining factor, but that is based only on personal preference as each will pass the test of being pleasingly sweet. The biggest and most important factor to separate Erythritol as the preferred natural sweetener is the method by which the body digests the sweetener. Erythritol is digested mostly in the small intestine and excreted through the bladder saving you the discomfort of the digestive issues caused by the other sweeteners.
Found naturally in many fruits and vegetables like pears, melons, potatoes and grapes, Erythritol is abundantly available. Erythritol has many of the desired qualities of sugar and is widely used as a replacement of sugar to sweeten drinks and add flavor to cooking recipes. It is approximately 70% as sweet as sugar but much better for the teeth and body. Diabetics appreciate the fact that Erythritol does not spike the blood sugar levels and makes managing their diabetes easier. There is plenty of information regarding all the different natural sweeteners online and you would do well to read through some portion of it before making the switch.
Jamis Hartley has been in hot pursuit of sugar reducing and nutrient rich foods for years as an athlete and health conscious human being. Jamis has since discovered Erythritol as the best of all Natural Sweeteners for its taste, digestive and physical properties. Visit DoctorGrands.com to discover more about Natural Sweeteners and other sugar free healthy whole foods.
