The sugar alternatives presented below provide a comparable amount of energy as household sugar. However, depending on the composition, they have different blood sugar levels. The sweetening power is usually similar to that of table sugar. The taste sometimes contains the typical aroma of the raw material.
While the health benefits of the alternatives to ordinary household sugar, which are often touted, are scientifically incomprehensible or proven, the exotic variants' ecological footprint (coconut blossom sugar, agave syrup, maple syrup, etc.) is usually higher.
Granulated sugar, whole, and raw cane sugar
The white crystal is obtained from beet and cane sugar. Whole and raw cane sugar are a little less processed than granulated sugar and therefore have a brownish color.
Honey
Bees from flowering plants produce honey. Since the sugar contained mainly consists of the simple sugars fructose and glucose, the sweetening power is slightly higher. Pet has more antioxidants than white sugar.
Maple
syrup
The sap of the maple tree is processed into maple syrup. There are different quality levels (AA, A, B, C, and D) at different prices. The sugar contained consists of 95% sucrose. In contrast to granulated sugar, maple syrup is richer in antioxidants.
Agave
syrup and fruit syrup
The agave syrup obtained from the agave comes from Mexico. The sugar contained consists of over 90% fructose, which leads to a significantly lower glycemic index. Other concentrated fruit juices are made from the respective types of fruit and have the fruit's typical aroma.
Rice
syrup
Rice syrup is made from rice starch and can be used as an alternative to fructose malabsorption due to the composition of the sugar it contains. In addition to glucose, there are maltose and oligosaccharides. Rice syrup can also contain traces of arsenic.
Coconut
blossom sugar and other palm sugars
So-called palm sugar can be produced from different types of palm. The best-known example is coconut blossom sugar. In terms of sweetening power and blood sugar effect, it hardly differs from household sugar.
Malt
extracts
Malt extracts are created during the malting process of
various types of grain or rice and are also obtained. The predominant sugar is
maltose. It results in a lower sweetness with a higher glycemic index of table
sugar.
Not all sugar is created equal. And there are also sugar alternatives such as maple syrup and coconut blossom sugar or sugar substitutes such as sweeteners and sugar substitutes. There are differences in sweetness, metabolic effects, caries potential or mouthfeel, and food behavior.
Given many compounds and products, an exact assignment to
sugar, sugar substitute, or sweetener is not always easy and straightforward.
We have examined the most important definitions and representatives.
Obesity and overweight
The often suspected appetite-increasing effect of sweeteners
has also not been demonstrated in humans. In a human study from 2017, it was
only found that the daily energy intake with or without consumption of
sweeteners (or foods with sweeteners instead of sugar) does not differ. So far,
it is not clear whether sweeteners activate the sensors for "sweet"
detected in the small intestine and thus cause metabolic effects (such as an
increase in insulin and blood sugar regulation). This has been shown in some
animal studies, but not so far in human studies.