Sugar

Have you decided to give up sugar? You've heard it's bad for health and are now looking for a "healthier" alternative, such as agave syrup or artificial sweeteners?

Stop! Before opting for a particular sweet substance, find out if the most common alternatives are really as good as one might think. Read on to find out more.

FRUCTOSE

Fructose is often considered "harmless" because it is found in fruits. If you have nothing to worry about fructose fruit (see below), its synthetic form can, on the other hand, be detrimental to your health.

The synthetic version is present in processed foods and also in large quantities in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as its name implies. This syrup is found in a wide variety of foods, such as breakfast cereals, sweetened beverages or biscuits. Several studies have shown that the transformation of fructose into fat occurs even more rapidly than that of normal glucose. Moreover, when we compare the two, we note that the fructose does not satisfy as much as the glucose. This is why fructose is considered the sweetener making the most fat.

THE FRUITS

It is true that fruits contain sugar, but they are also rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and antioxidants, which are essential to your health. In addition, fruits have a low energy density, which means they have a relatively low amount of calories for a large volume of food. It is then difficult to make excesses by eating fruits. For example, apricots contain only 0.8 g of sugar per 100 g of fruit. And the bananas, 3.6 g of sugar per 100 g of fruit. What does that mean ? In summary, the fruits are great. They are tasty and essential to your health in general. Period.

THE SYRUP OF AGAVE

You probably already know this sugar substitute. Agave syrup is considered the healthiest alternative given its low glycemic index and is therefore used to sweeten most "sugar-free" products. But be careful, because in reality it is not as healthy as it seems. If agave syrup has a low glycemic index, it is because it is largely composed of fructose and you already know why fructose can harm your health. Of all the sweeteners that can be found in trade, it even has the highest fructose content. So, avoid this highly processed food product!

MAPLE SYRUP

Maple syrup is a better alternative than agave syrup because it is not as processed and contains a lower amount of fructose. In addition, it contains many nutrients, such as manganese, riboflavin and zinc.

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, potassium acesulfame and sucralose, are synthetic food additives that have a sweet taste but do not contain any calories. This seems too good to be true? It's because it is. Studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can also cause people to gain weight. They have shown that regular consumption of these sweeteners, for example in coca-light, is much more likely to lead to weight gain and the development of type 2 diabetes. In this context, it is interesting to note that To the sweet taste, the brain responds naturally by sending signals inciting to eat even more. Consuming something sweet that does not contain any calories increases our cravings for drinks and sugary foods, then causing overconsumption of calories. Studies have also shown that artificial sweeteners can alter the type of bacteria present in your intestines, which can also lead to obesity.

HONEY

Honey is one of the oldest and most traditional food products in the world. It contains fructose, glucose, water, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, pollen, enzymes and a tiny bit of protein. Has anyone ever prepared a cup of tea with honey when you were sick? This is because it has been scientifically proven that the enzymes present in honey possess therapeutic benefits. In addition, scientists have discovered antifungal and antibacterial properties. For all these reasons, honey is a good alternative to white sugar. Nevertheless, it contains almost as many calories as sugar, so it is best to consume it in moderation.