What to use instead of sugar? 5 natural sweeteners...

If you are looking for alternatives to what to consume instead of sugar, getting used to the sweet tastes found in nature is a good option. Products called natural sweeteners are generally obtained and extracted from plants and plant roots. There are many different types of food that can replace sugar, which you can use in your sweet recipes and snacks. We can list the ones most common in our kitchens: honey, stevia, agave syrup, dates, and maple syrup.

HONEY

Honey is one of the best alternatives that can be used instead of sugar. Consuming honey instead of sugar is also healthier in every respect. It boosts immunity, provides energy, strengthens the body, and protects against diseases. Since it also regulates blood sugar, it prevents fat accumulation. Like sugar, it should be used in moderation. Since honey is liquid, care must be taken with the measurement amount when using it in recipes. Although the sweetness level of honey compared to table sugar varies depending on the type of honey, it is generally sweeter. For this reason, it should be used in smaller amounts than the amount of sugar in the recipe. Honey can be used most effectively to sweeten dairy and yogurt recipes, granola, oatmeal, and delicacies like smoothies.

STEVIA

Stevia, which has both sweetening properties and zero calories and can be easily used in diet foods, is produced from the sugar leaf plant, whose full name is Stevia rebaudiana. The USA and Japan are among the countries where its production and use are widespread, and there are also stevia production farms in the Mediterranean Region in our country. Stevia is produced in liquid and powder forms. Liquid stevia is preferred more in tea, coffee, salads, and dessert sauces. Stevia in powder form can be easily used in all recipes just like table sugar. However, stevia is much sweeter than regular sugar. For this reason, using about 1/3 of the amount of sugar you would use in any recipe may be sufficient.

MAPLE SYRUP

Maple syrup, produced from the sap in the trunk of the maple tree, which is widely produced in Canada, is one of the natural options you can consume instead of refined sugar. It resembles honey in appearance. It contains important vitamins such as iron, zinc, and calcium, as well as antioxidants. Since it has a heat-resistant structure, it is used in making sauces and cooked foods. Although maple syrup is mostly preferred for sweetening crepes, pancakes, and oatmeal, it is used instead of sugar in many desserts. Maple syrup is as sweet as sugar. If you are going to use maple syrup instead of sugar, you should use it in the same amount as the sugar in the recipe.

DATES

Dates, which have a fibrous structure, are quite rich in carbohydrates, B6, magnesium, and potassium. Every variety of dates, which come in different types, can be consumed as a natural sugar. When you eat dates as a snack, they provide energy and keep you full. By putting dates through a blender, they can be used as a natural sweetener in the making of various desserts. They can be used in recipes such as cookies, muffins, and cakes. You can use them in your recipes after soaking the dates in hot water and processing them in a food processor until they reach a paste consistency.