Is brown sugar really a healthy alternative to white sugar? Here's the sweet truth

You've decided - 2017 is going to be the year that you're going to clean up your diet and lead a healthier lifestyle!

You've already eliminated dairy and gluten and replaced these foods with healthy-savvy options like almond milk, coconut yoghurt and gluten-free bread.

Next, you're going to find a healthy alternative to sugar. Then you ask yourself, “is brown sugar a healthy alternative to white sugar?” Let's clear this up by comparing brown sugar to white sugar...

Brown sugar is only refined once, while white sugar is refined repeatedly

Simply put, brown sugar is raw sugar cane that’s only been refined once. It has a different aroma to white sugar and is slightly moister. It gets it brown colour from the refining process, which produces sugar grains that contain about 5% to 10% molasses.
 
On the other hand, white sugar is refined multiple times, which strips it of all the remaining molasses. This is why the aroma, texture, colour and taste of white sugar is different to that of brown sugar.
 
So does this mean that brown sugar is more nutritious? The Canadian Sugar Institute says no...


 

The Canadian Sugar Institute says that brown sugar isn’t more nutritional than white sugar

The institute explains that brown sugar isn’t more nutritious than white sugar. They explain that the nutrient and fibre content left in brown sugar after the refinement process is so small that it’s basically insignificant.
 
Therefore, the bottom line is that choosing brown sugar over white sugar won’t make much of a difference. Instead of switching to brown sugar, you should opt to sweeten drinks, baked goods and so on with natural sugars, such as local honey, agave nectar or stevia.
 

Try this recipe for stevia chocolate chip cookies

To get you started on your low-sugar journey, why not try out this delicious recipe for stevia chocolate chip cookies? They make a totally satisfying, guilt-free indulgence!
 
Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp sea salt
• ¾ tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp stevia powder
• 1 tsp pure vanilla
• 1 cup salted butter, softened
• 2 cups dark chocolate chips

 
Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and set aside.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder, and set aside.
3. Place the egg, stevia, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl, and beat well with a wooden spoon or an electric hand-held mixer. Slowly add the butter, continuing to beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, ½ cup at a time, stirring well with a wooden spoon after each addition. Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Drop heaping teaspoons of batter on the cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown.

 
Recipe source: The Stevia Cookbook
 
Enjoy!

Tags: sugar, sugar alternatives, healthy sugar alternatives, natural sweetener, blood sugar, nutrients, fibre, healthy eating, nutrition tips