What can replace sugar: options, tips and tricks

Having made the decision to eat right, the first thing to do is to give up sugar. This does not mean that you need to deprive yourself of a daily portion of sweets raising the level of endorphin. Variants, than it is possible to replace sugar, without doing much harm to the health, weight.

Definition

Sugar is a product that we eat every day, and in many different forms. He gives the dish sweetness, energizes, cheers up. It is widely believed that sugar is simply necessary for workers with intensified mental work, it improves brain activity and prevents possible fatigue. However, this is a common misconception. Sugar is a fast carbohydrate, which gives almost no results, except for sagging on the sides and increased cravings for sweets. Scientists have proved that it is completely unnecessary to the body, and replace it with slow slow carbohydrates, the energy of which will last much longer to supply the brain.

And what can replace sugar? Agree, the mind immediately comes honey and a number of chemical sweeteners from the nearest supermarket. These products are more useful, but each has its own number of pluses and minuses. In addition, there are many other good and useful alternatives to the "sweet poison" that we have in the kitchen. This is an excellent option for its replacement in baking in the event that a prescription without sugar can not do.

Honey

We know about him from childhood. This sweet delicacy is called a real healing elixir for its wonderful natural composition. Honey is an excellent substitute for sugar. Firstly, it is more useful, and secondly, only one teaspoon will completely replace several spoons of sand. Try drinking tea with honey. The taste sensations will be unchanged, but the benefits in such a drink will definitely add. Honey is a partially processed nectar collected by bees from plants. In fact, these are pure carbohydrates, dissolved in a small amount of water. Is it possible to replace sugar with honey? Not only it is possible, but also it is necessary! Just consider that at high temperatures it loses all its useful properties, there is only sweetness and aroma. Dissolve it is recommended in a warm liquid, the temperature of which is not more than forty degrees.

Stevia

Until recently, it was completely mysterious for most Russians. But after finding out all its useful qualities, stevia quickly gained popularity and is even grown on household plots. The uniqueness of the herb lies in its rich composition, containing a lot of useful substances, amino acids, vitamins and mineral salts. Due to this set of stevia has a high degree of sweetness and low caloric content. It is possible to substitute sugar for baking with it. Now it is sold as a syrup in any store, and in addition, stevia can strengthen immunity, cope with the accumulated in the body of slag and other harmful substances.

In baking, stevia is used universally. It is unsuitable for recipes that require additional caramelization. Adding to the products one hundred grams of sugar, you can get not only a lot of extra calories, but also increase the volume of the portion. Stevia is required in much smaller quantities, it does not completely change the volume and overall structure of the dish, only adding to it extra sweetness. The plant has an interesting characteristic flavor, so it does not work well with some products. So, the grass is intensely felt in dairy and fruit neutral desserts. Culinary experts recommend mixing the stevia with other sweeteners, thereby reducing the brightness of its taste and achieving the least amount of calories in the end.

Agave Syrup

A wonderful natural sweetener, which, unfortunately, is difficult to find on sale. It is made from an exotic Mexican plant, from which, by the way, do also tequila. It is chosen by people who are watching their food, but to eat this syrup should be tidy. The fact is that in the process of its production a large amount of fructose is condensed - its content can reach 97%, which is extremely unhelpful for the organism. Fructose is not capable of increasing blood sugar, but its constant intake in large quantities produces resistance to insulin.

Homemade Spices

Cinnamon, nutmeg, almonds and especially vanilla can give the dish not only a wonderful aroma, but also a stunning sweet taste. Can I replace sugar with vanilla sugar? This is one of the most common options to date, which are successfully used by experienced housewives. This fragrant ingredient, in fact, is a sugar, aged in vanilla pods. It is packaged in small bags weighing no more than twenty grams. The problem is that such sugar can be impregnated with both natural vanilla and its artificial substitute. In order not to purchase such unnatural spice, carefully read the composition on the label or prepare a fragrant vanilla sugar at home.

Preparing vanilla sugar

What can replace vanilla sugar? Only natural flavoring seasoning, which is actually the whole pods of vanilla. They are most saturated with a fragrance that quickly absorbs sugar, if you place it together with vanilla sticks in a tightly clogged glass jar. You can hold the container in any cool and poorly lit place, always stirring the contents periodically. After ten days, the product can be used to make different bakes and other fragrant and delicious desserts.

Raisins

If you do not have vanilla sugar at hand, but want to add baking to your personality, use raisins. It is a powerful antioxidant, which, if grinded, gives the dish a good sweetness and a pleasant bright aroma. Try to bake with it a delicious cupcake. Without the addition of sugar, of course!

Maple syrup

What can replace vanilla sugar yet? Maple syrup is an exclusively natural product that is made from real fresh juice. Rich in vitamins and trace elements, it includes more than fifty kinds of antioxidants, and it is also very fragrant and will become an excellent alternative to sugar in morning porridges or fruit desserts.

Citrus

Lemon, orange and other fruits with a rich flavor can perfectly replace sugar. Scientists have found out that the brain perceives them as sweetness, which means that desserts with a little addition of zest will be an excellent option for those who follow their figure.

Artificial sweeteners

These include saccharin, aspartame and sucralose. Their greatest advantage is availability and virtually no calories. Is it possible to replace sugar with this kind of sweeteners? They are several times sweeter and do not give extra volume when baking products, as well as stevia. But their taste is much paler than a real sugar, and in the preparation of a short dough, to achieve the presence of crumbly crumbs with their application will not work. In none of its purchased versions this product is able to provide the dish with the desired airiness and lightness, but the maximum sweetness is guaranteed here. Experienced culinary experts recommend that to reduce the caloric content of baking, replace the sweetener with half the volume of sugar in the recipe. Is it possible to replace sugar powder with artificial sugar? The flavor of this product is very concentrated, with an obvious sourness in the aftertaste, so in this variation, the use of these sweeteners is not recommended.

Sugar Alcohols

Now xylitol and erythritol are very popular. They contain a minimum of carbohydrates. They are an excellent option for diabetics and are available in different forms. It is possible to replace sugar with these ingredients when baking, they will give it the necessary volume, structure and consistency, practically without changing the basic taste of the finished product. To their main disadvantage can be attributed only to a large expenditure. In relation to sugar, erythritol and xylitol are used in almost equal proportions. They are able to crystallize, and for this they are so fond of cooks who specialize in making dishes with low calorie content. With the help of sugar alcohols, you can prepare a delicious quality meringue or fragrant caramelized apples. In this case, you can replace sugar with powdered sugar made from these ingredients, or use them as a mix, combining in equal proportions with ordinary granulated sugar. This will also reduce the impact of these alcohols on the body, since their use in large quantities can adversely affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

Fructose

It has a more pronounced sweet taste compared to sugar (usually used in proportions of 1: 3), and it is the best alternative for diabetics. Can I replace sugar with fructose when baking? It possesses powerful absorbent abilities and can absorb more moisture from the environment. Therefore, the products with it will always be more moist, even if you take fructose in smaller proportions. Also under the influence of high temperatures, it quickly changes color to dark, so it's impossible to cook on its basis a beautiful white cake.

• Fructose is absorbed three times slower than sugar.
• Provides the body with the right amount of energy.
• It does not give a quick sense of saturation, so it can be consumed in larger quantities than necessary.
• The level of glucose in the blood after using it rises slowly, but lasts much longer than after dishes with ordinary sugar.

Choosing what can replace sugar, most people prefer fructose. It is useful and sweet, can be used in the preparation of most desserts, but requires some restrictions in use. Splitting in the body very slowly, it almost completely enters the liver cells, where it is differentiated into fatty acids. Their high concentration can lead to fouling of the liver visceral fat, which in turn is the first symptom of the onset of obesity.

Dried fruits and fruits

Can I replace sugar with ordinary fruits? Why not? Very ripe and juicy, they contain the maximum amount of sweetness that the brain perfectly perceives and uses exclusively for its own benefit. Dried fruits are the same fructose, only in a convenient concentrated form, which can be used as a separate nutritious snack or for preparing a wide variety of dishes - from sweet desserts, pies and jams to jellies and compotes.

Cane sugar

Listing what can replace sugar, we can not fail to mention this product. It's a pity that in our country it is almost impossible to buy it, and it costs not cheap. Therefore, a number of unscrupulous producers are replaced with ordinary sugar beet sugar by tinting it. The difference between these products is not, if you do not take into account their color, so using it for food as an alternative is inexpedient and simply unprofitable.