Natural Sweeteners

Eating sugar free and the THM way doesn’t have to mean you never eat another sweet thing again. Life’s too short for that! The good news is, there are all-natural ways to satisfy your sweet tooth and still keep your goals in sight. Maybe you’ve heard of Stevia, Erythritol and Xylitol as sugar free sweetener options. If not, here’s the info to get you started.

Stevia

Probably the best known of all the natural sweeteners, Stevia comes from the plant of the same name. Stevia is approximately 60 times sweeter than sugar, yet has no metabolic effect (it has zero calories and doesn’t raise blood sugar levels). Unlike many products on the market, the stevia you find at Sweet and Sprouted is derived using a gentle, natural water process and high-quality ingredients. It has no bitter taste, and a little goes a long way.

Xylitol

Discovered in Finland during World War Two, when the country was suffering a sugar shortage, xylitol boasts a range of health benefits. As a sweetener, it’s a natural insulin stabilizer, which means the body does not require insulin to metabolize xylitol. It has very few documented side effects, and its benefits to dental health have made it a main ingredient in sugarless gum.

Erythritol

This alcohol-based sugar is packed with antioxidants and perhaps the gentlest on your system (it is less likely to cause gastric upset than some other sugar substitutes). Erythritols does not cause tooth decay, is non-caloric, and does not affect blood sugar. Erythritol is easy to digest and its high antioxidant levels help fight free radicals in the body, which in turn helps fight the aging process. Erythritol can be used alone or combined with stevia extract in recipes.