Erythritol for guilt-free sweetening
One of the pleasures in our daily lives is definitely good and delicious food. Occasional sweet sins are certainly not a bad thing if we stick to a quality, healthy and balanced diet the rest of the time. Sugar in desserts can be replaced with a much healthier alternative, so we can sweeten up without feeling bad about it.
Sugar’s effect on our body
Sugar is a natural sweetener from the group of carbohydrates obtained from sugar cane. It has been rumoured for several years that sugar is not healthy for our body, which is true. When sugar is absorbed into our bloodstream, the pancreas responds to its concentration by releasing insulin. A meal full of sugar can lead to a rise in blood sugar levels and result in a drop in strength. Excessive fluctuations in insulin lead to an increased appetite and an even greater desire for sweets. Furthermore, because of the increased food consumption, we can gain weight and be stuck in a vicious circle. Sugar, just like some illicit drugs, acts on the same centres in the brain and causes sugar addiction, because when consumed, the body begins to release opioids and dopamine. This can be followed by an abstinence crisis in the form of headaches, fatigue, and mood swings when sugar is not consumed. Sugar also affects the development of caries, as some bacteria use it as food. It also affects the skin’s appearance as it makes it difficult to restore the collagen in our skin.
It also contains quite a few calories and doesn’t have nutritional value, so excessive consumption can lead to obesity. In our body, sugar can cause inflammation, which weakens our immune system and can lead to the development of various diseases. The sugar stored in the liver goes mostly into the fat around the abdomen.
How to replace white sugar?
Sugar doesn’t have any beneficial effects on our body. Often in the desire for a healthier lifestyle or to lose some extra kilos, people eliminate sugar from their diet, which certainly helps. What if we didn’t have to completely eliminate the sugar and pleasant sweet taste from our diet? Instead of plain white sugar, you can include a variety of sugar substitutes in your diet and recipes. By using them, you can create desserts that you can enjoy without feeling bad about it, and the taste will be the same as if you were sweetening with plain sugar. There is a wide range of sweeteners on the market. Unlike regular sugar, they have a lower energy value and don’t affect the rise in blood sugar as much. These popular sugar substitutes include erythritol, xylitol, stevia, and Yacon.Erythritol – a natural sweetener without calories
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol obtained by natural glucose fermentation. In nature, it is present in fruits such as pears, grapes, melons and watermelons. This sweetener is suitable for anyone who avoids sugar or is following a low-carb diet, as it’s calorie-free. It’s suitable for baking and cooking, as it is resistant to high temperatures. Its appearance and structure are similar to the regular sugar. Its glycemic index is 0.
Sweetening desserts and beverages
You can use erythritol to sweeten up desserts, hot and cold drinks, prepare raw desserts, add it to a smoothie or sprinkle it over fresh fruit. The advantage of erythritol is that after ingestion it doesn’t affect the rise in blood sugar and thus the release of insulin from the pancreas. Therefore, it is also suitable for diabetics.
In the future, when baking your favourite dessert, try replacing the amount of sugar with erythritol. Try to see if the taste is similar. If you swear by a healthy lifestyle, you can also replace plain flour with wholemeal flour, and replace butter and cream with alternative products with less fat.
