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Healthy Alternatives to Refined Sugar

We've all been hearing about the dangers of refined sugar. Most of us ingest sugar in some form, since it's added to food, drink, and medicine.

We are inundated with soft drinks in high schools, non-grocery and grocery stores, restaurants, hair salons and ball parks' concession stands. And, I haven't even gotten to things that we add sugar to regularly like lemonade, coffee, tea and cereal.

Sugar substitutes are as bad if not worse. As a result of consuming sugar and sugar substitutes, scientists are recording health issues in children and adults alike, including increases in diabetes, tooth decay, digestive tract damage, and damage to all bodily systems.

6 Healthy Alternatives to Refined Sugar

What can you do to avoid these unnatural, processed substances? Well, there are several alternatives to refined sugar and substitute sugar that you can use.

1. Pure cane sugar is an obvious alternative that many people may overlook. Look for the organically grown information to be sure you're getting the healthiest product.

2. Xylitol is a sugar that doesn't promote tooth decay. Some indications are that it may actually help to fix minor cavities caused by the disease "caries".

3. Raw organic honey is a very soft paste. It's got all its nutrients and enzymes in tact and is a great sweetener for many things.

4. Agave nectar is a kind of syrup from the liquid of the agave plant. It is heat processed, which breaks down some of the enzymes. Still, it doesn't have in it any of the toxins that go into refined sugar and substitute sugars.

5. Raw organic fruit offer very sweet and beneficial alternatives to refined sugar. Fresh fruit are fun, healthy treats, and they can be used in many recipes to sweeten and they lend their unique flavor to recipes.

6. Dried fruit are another versatile alternative. They're a healthy snack as is; or you can re-hydrate them by soaking them in purified water. If you reconstitute the fruit, be sure to use this great sweetened water, too.

Some things to note about dried fruit: you can grow or buy your fruit fresh and dehydrate them at home. Re-hydrate them in the refrigerator to avoid bacteria growth in the solution. And remember this is all organic fresh fruit. Once you dry them, try to eat them relatively soon after, as there are no preservatives added. You can also freeze the dried fruit to extend the time that you have to consume them.