In regard to Healthy Eating, is there a sweetener, for hot cereal, hot tea and baking, that does not affect the body negatively but can be enjoyed while being beneficial.
In addition to answering above, please tell me what you think about the following I've used: organic evaporated sugar juice, organic turbinado and stevia. Also what about honey and agave?
A sweetener that does not affect the body negatively and is even beneficial is a tall order to fill in healthy eating.
Sugar itself and all it's various forms would not fit your criteria. This includes tubinado sugar, also known as demerara sugar, and evaporated sugar juice.
Although you do buy these two sugars as organic, which I must commend you on. The benefit of organic sugars would be that they are not made with genetically altered seeds and also would be grown without the harsh synthetic chemical pesticides.
Tubinado sugar appears much like brown sugar and can be used in its place in most baking recipes with the same results.
I have used Pure Maple Syrup in hot cereal and baking. Your body still has to handle this sweetener much as it has to handle sugar; however, it has not undergone the heavy processing of sugar and does contain potassium and calcium.
Stevia comes from a plant. It has been recommended as a sweetener for diabetics because it does not negatively effect insulin demands. It is sweeter than sugar so far less would be needed in your tea and baking. Stevia can be found in most health food stores.
Agave syrup consists of as much as 92% fructose and 8% glucose. This would cause a heavy load on the body to get insulin out to handle this amount of sugar. It does contain some magnesium, potassium and calcium so can be considered better than sugar.
Honey is sweeter than sugar. It contains vitamins B, C, D, E and even some trace nutrients. It has long been a favorite in hot tea. I can recall my grandmother putting honey in her tea. It needs to be handled by the body using insulin; so even though it is more wholesome than sugar, it should be used within limits. Babies should not be given honey because any contaminants could overwhelm their systems e.g. botulism.
Stevia does not negatively effect the body and early research indicates that it could be beneficial to Diabetics. Yet even this sweetener should be used in moderation.
