As the demand for GMO corn-based sweeteners grows, so does the health risk.

There are no more controversial topics for maintaining health and beauty than the issue of nutrition. We all already well know that "sweet" calories inevitably lead to excess weight.

Did you know that there are natural and delicious sweeteners that will not spoil your figure and will not give any side effects.

How do you like low-calorie sweeteners?

It is believed that it is a good idea to replace sugar with low-calorie sweeteners. Aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, etc. - these are all chemical copies of sugar, which can harm health more than sugar.

Artificial sugar is far from harmless. Research shows that artificial sweeteners cause excessive sugar cravings, leading to weight gain and other negative effects associated with excessive sugar intake. Calorie-free sugar substitutes increase the risk of kidney disease, metabolic dysfunction, and ultimately obesity and diabetes. So it's cheating consumers who think they've solved the sugar issue.

Nature has a solution

So what can you do? Fortunately, nature took care of us. There are some natural substitutes that won't ruin your teeth, cause blood sugar imbalances, or weight gain. In fact, these wonderful gifts of nature have amazing health benefits!

Xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol derived from xylose, a crystalline sugar found in birch bark. Sweet but contains only 40% of the calories, xylitol will satisfy your sweet needs.

Xylitol is also suitable for a low-carb diet, as cane sugar contains less than a quarter of the carbohydrates.

It differs from artificial sweeteners in its natural origin. In addition to birch, xylitol is found in the cell structure of fruits such as raspberries and vegetables such as the cob. Even our body produces xylitol - 5 to 15 grams per day during normal metabolic processes.

Xylitol is absorbed by the body about eight times slower than regular sugar, making it safe for diabetics.

In addition, for caries patients, xylitol actually inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause these conditions. Dental caries bacteria thrive in acidic environments with sugar. Xylitol does not ferment, causing an alkaline reaction in the body, which bacteria consider unfavorable. Consuming xylitol dramatically reduces the risk of ear cavity, throat and other infections.

Dentists are big fans of xylitol. Studies have shown that the formation of plaque and dental caries can be reduced by 80% with the use of moderate amounts of xylitol (about 14 g per day). Research also shows that consuming xylitol can increase bone strength and density.

Xylitol can be a laxative, so start with small doses. Better to use xylitol from birch rather than corn. Plus, xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs!

Stevia

Stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar and has no calories. Stevia has been used to sweeten food and drinks for centuries, and its popularity as a modern sugar substitute rose in the 1990s.

New research confirms that this herb is a safe, affordable and tasty alternative to expensive and potentially dangerous sweeteners.

In a study published in August 2017, Stevia was named "an appropriate zero-calorie sweetener" with both "pharmacological and therapeutic properties, in particular antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic and anti-cancer." Researchers have also reported positive effects of stevia on metabolic conditions made more difficult by excessive sugar intake, namely obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

Stevia lowers blood sugar, lowers blood pressure, fights infections, and lowers the risk of diabetes. Previously, a plant extract with a strong sweet taste was offered, and only in health food stores. Stevia can now be used either as a crystallized sugar or as a concentrate that tastes like the less sweet cane sugar.

Honey

Honey contains over 180 health promoting substances. Rich in phytonutrients (nutrients readily available by plants), raw honey is known worldwide for its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Raw, unfiltered honey is very different from the pasteurized product found on most grocery store shelves. Almost all commercially produced honey is heated to kill potentially harmful bacteria, reduce crystallization, and improve product sales. Unfortunately, this process also kills vital, living enzymes and beneficial bacteria that make honey one of the oldest known and irreplaceable foods in the world.

The bacteria in raw honey serve as prebiotics, a substance that contains beneficial microorganisms that aid in the digestion process. When consumed raw, honey's natural enzymes aid in the breakdown and absorption of many of the nutrients it contains.

Honey is rich in powerful antioxidants called phenolic compounds, which are known to play an important role in cancer prevention. These compounds found in honey have been shown to reduce arterial blockages (atherosclerosis) and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Perhaps most important of all, honey contains strains of probiotics so ancient that a form of lactobacillus present in some types of honey is believed to have originated 80,000,000 years ago.

These healthy sugar alternatives prove that sugar cravings should not cause tooth decay, weight gain, or blood sugar imbalances. There are always natural products in nature that really improve our health and taste.