Low Calorie Sugar Alternatives

Low calorie sugar alternatives for dropping pounds.

With obesity figures in the UK more than trebled in the last decade, (61.3% of adults and 30% of children aged between 2 and 15); Doctors now say that the condition is reaching ‘epidemic’ proportions especially since people who are overweight have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

Sugar is one of the main culprits responsible for weight gain so cutting it out completely is ideally one of the quickest ways to drop a few pounds but the rise in obesity suggests this is easier said than done.

In the past, it was assumed natural sugar alternatives like honey and agave nectar may be the answer but the harsh truth is a teaspoon of honey or agave has as much, if not slightly more calories than white sugar. While honey may be good for you because it’s natural, the truth is that agave is processed just like other sugars – and is no better for you than other sugars.

If you have a sweet tooth and can’t go cold turkey, here are alternatives that tastes like sugar but have none of calories.

Fact: One teaspoon of natural honey contains 22 calories while one teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories.

XyloBrit:

Xylitol is a natural alternative to sugar with 40% of the calories. It has no aftertaste and looks and tastes just like sugar.

The xylitol in XyloBrit is actually extracted from birch trees and other hardwoods, and has only 2.4 calories per gram (as opposed to 4.0 calories/g in ordinary sugar) so can be used by dieters as part of a low calorie diet. If you are on a low calorie diet, you have to take a quick look at forskolin online, they have so much to say on the subject.

XyloBrit is recommended for diabetics and is kinder to teeth too. Recent studies indicate that Xylitol also encourages the natural pH balance of the mouth, reduces plaque and promotes the maintenance of healthy teeth.

Truvia:

Zero calories with the same sweetness of sugar. Truvia is made from the stevia plant which people have been using to sweeten their foods/beverages for centuries. Simply sprinkle it on your grapefruit, into your tea or coffee and it won’t end up on your thighs.

Truvia is a great alternative for people with diabetes. It is also kosher pareve (neutral) and suitable for vegetarians.

BetterStevia®

Funny enough, this is not the first time I’ve come across stevia – it’s the main ingredient in low calorie sugar alternatives like Truvia. BetterStevia®, which is stevia in its purer form, is new on the market as a low calorie natural sweetener. Stevia is a small green plant bearing leaves which can be 30 times sweeter than sugar.

Sweet Freedom

This is a tasty,  100% natural syrup made  from fruit (apples, grapes, carob) with 25% less calories than sugar!
Sweet Freedom is low in GL, a good choice for diabetics, and is vegan, gluten free and nut free.

To help you keep your sugar intake on track, download my easy to remember sugar alternatives here.