Natural Sweeteners - Benefits and Uses

Natural sweeteners are substances used to sweeten foods and drinks, which are derived from plants or natural sources. They are an alternative to artificial sweeteners.
Category
Food
Where to get
Available in health food stores, supermarkets, and online.
Prepared by Nick Harper, reviewed by Dr. David James Simpson

natural sweeteners FAQ


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What are natural sweeteners?

Natural sweeteners include sugars such as glucose and sucrose, sweet amino acids such as D-tryptophane, glycine, sweet proteins such as monellin, thaumatin, but also some other chemically quite diverse compounds including stevioside and neohesperidin dihydrochalone (Schiffman and Gatlin 1993 ).

Which natural sweeteners are enviro-friendly?

Other natural sweeteners with enviro-friendly production methods that are becoming popular food ingredients for health-conscious consumers are briefly described below: Raw Honey: one of the oldest natural sweeteners. Honey is sweeter than sugar, and is the only sweetener obtained from an animal source (insect bees, minilivestock).

Are natural sweeteners healthy?

With a food supply that’s saturated in added sugars, turning to healthier alternatives like natural sweeteners can be a good way to manage your intake of added sugar. Unlike manufactured artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners are found in nature. They’re typically low in calories and fructose, but they can taste just as sweet.

Are there natural sweeteners?

Still, some natural sweeteners stand out among the rest. Fresh fruits like bananas, berries, and dates are naturally sweet and packed with important nutrients that can support overall health. Plus, the fiber in fruit helps slow down the absorption of sugar in the body, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Where do natural sweeteners come from?

Natural sweeteners come from flowers and plants directly, with little processing. Examples include stevia, monk fruit, and yacon syrup. Many people are turning away from refined table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, looking for more healthful options.

natural sweeteners References

If you want to know more about natural sweeteners, consider exploring links below:

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