Some sweeteners are commonly referred to as natural sugars. Sugar is deemed to be natural if it is produced from natural sources such as barks, stems and leaves. The Food & Drug Administration defines sugar as containing sucrose, fructose, and glucose. Common types of sugars that usually fall under this category include sugar from sugar beets, corn sweeteners, honey, and agave syrup. Using these types of sugars in your diet has the advantage of having a lower percentage of calories compared to refined sugar. This is very beneficial for the people who are more conscious about the amount of calories that they consume.
The agave nectar is a liquid that is derived from the blue agave plant. The agave nectar is thicker than maple syrup, but slightly lighter than honey. Agave is largely used as a substitute for refined sugar. When used in baking you should ensure that you reduce the amount of all the other liquids by at least a third.
Unrefined palm sugar is another common source of sweeteners. This is made by boiling the sap of coconut palm flowers. This sweetener looks like brown sugar though it has a slightly stronger flavor compared to honey and sugar. You will feel some hints of maple and caramel and maple syrup. The glucose index of palm sugar is about 35 and is usually best used for baking where you would like to have some taste of caramel.
Another natural sweetener that you can explore is the Stevia. This is derived from a chrysanthemum that is found in South America, Mexico, and Central America. Stevia has been proven to be about 250 times sweeter than refined sugar, though it contains no calories. This is definitely a good deal for those who would like to keep their weight and not compromise on the taste of their food.
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