Holiday Alternative Sweetners

Good news! You don't have to skip the holidays treats and sweets. You can make your goodies without loading up on the refined processed sugars. Too much sugar can wreak havoc on your health. Processed sugar ramps up your glycemic load and is a nutritionally empty food and is high in calories. But there are great alternative sugars so you don't have to give up your sweet tooth and I love my desserts.

The natural sugar alternatives contain nutrients and minerals that promote a healthy digestive system. They may change the texture and sweetness of your dessert but for the better. Also, measurements may need to be altered but I'll give you some conversions.

Agave is a must have at my house. It is in liquid form so it is easy to use if you want to sweeten up some fruit or cereal. Just pour a little on. Agave nectar comes from a cactus. This is also a great option for diabetics because it is lower on the glycemic scale. It packs a powerful nutrient punch. It is also rich in vitamin B,C, D and E, calcium, iron and phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, selenium and chronium. For a measurement conversion you will want to use 3/4 cup agave for a cup of sugar and reduce the liquid of a recipe by a 1/4 cup. If replacing a cup of corn syrup, use 1/2 as much agave and increase other liquids in the recipe by up to 1/3 cup. Even better news it doesn't spoil or crystallize.

Date sugar is another good option but probably need to go to health stores to get it. It is ground up dates which are rich in fiber. It is full of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and copper. It is a nice substitute for brown sugar.

Maple syrup is oh so delicious. I can't even imagine using anything else on my pancakes and waffles and a little goes a long way because it is rich. The darker, grade C preferred, the better. It contains zinc which supports the immune system.

Do you see the pattern here? These natural sugars are packed with nutrients which their white sugar chemical counterpart is not. It can be a bit experimental when substituting the natural sugars in baked goods, but don't be afraid to try.

So don't fret. You can eat all those yummy holiday treats while being healthy. And your guests and family will be raving over your desserts.