5 healthy alternatives to table sugar

Include these healthy sugar alternatives in your food and head towards a healthy and fit life.

Sugar is the most common and important ingredient in every sweet dish that we make and it occupies a prominent position in almost every region's cuisine. However, it is always said that eating normal table sugar or foods rich in white sugar can be detrimental to your health, as it puts you at increased risk of disease conditions by raising sugar levels in the body. The best way to maintain your blood sugar levels within control and lead a healthy life is through limiting your intake of sugar and replacing it with other natural and healthy alternatives. The top 5 alternatives for sugar which you can try as these are not only delicious and nutrient-rich but are extremely healthy are

Honey

Honey is one of the best and healthiest substitutes for table sugar. It is alkaline in nature and contains natural sugars, essential vitamins, minerals, proteins as well as good amounts of water. This natural liquid increases blood flow, decreases blood pressure, and protects you from coughs and colds in addition to purifying blood. Adding honey to beverages or desserts not only enhances the taste but also exerts positive effects on health. Read more about health benefits of honey.

Jaggery

Jaggery, called as gur in hindi is one of the closest alternatives for white sugar in addition to being healthy and tastier than the normal sugar. It can be used in a similar manner to normal sugar as it is available in solid form, but can be used in both powder form and liquid form. Jaggery is known to be a medicinal sugar since it helps in curing various health problems like indigestion, constipation and coughs. Read more health benefits of jaggery.

Stevia

Stevia, known as meethi patti in hindi is a herb that acts as an apt substitute for sugar to satiate your sweet cravings. It is usually recommended for people suffering from diabetes and those on diets for weight loss, as it is low in calories. This medical herb is available in powdered form under different brand names in India. It protects against tooth decay, reduces stomach acidity and lowers blood pressure. Read about more health benefits of stevia.

Dry fruits

Dry fruits are actually the best healthy alternative when you have a strong sugar craving. You can add these nutritious and healthy dried fruits to foods that require just a hint of sweetness in place of sugar. You can use dry fruits like dates (khajur) for making dates chutney or sauce; toss your food with raisins(kishmish),munch on a handful of figs (anjeer) and add prunes(sukhaalubukhara) to salads or sweet dishes.

Fruits

Fruits such as mangoes, bananas, carrots, papaya, apples and watermelons can act as a healthy substitute for sugar. They not only contain sugar in a less concentrated form, but are loaded with a myriad range of beneficial nutrients. Consuming fruits not only fulfils sugar requirements, but also improves blood sugar control along with aiding in weight loss.

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