If you're aiming to reduce your sugar intake or manage your blood sugar levels, choosing the right sugar substitute is essential. In this guide, we'll walk you through the factors to consider when selecting a sugar replacement, helping you find the perfect option to suit your dietary needs and preferences.
Ingredients in Sugar Replacements
Erythritol
Erythritol serves as the primary ingredient in most sugar replacements. This natural sugar alcohol is made from corn and it contains only 0.24 calories per gram. As far as sweetness levels go, it contains 70% of the sweetness of regular sugar and has next-to-none side effects.
Monk fruit extract
To reach the sweetness levels of sugar, manufacturers usually add extracts from monk fruit. Since this fruit is 200 times sweeter than sugar, the amount of this extract added is small. As far as the macros go, this extract contains no carbs, calories, or fat.
Stevia leaf extract
Similar to monk fruit, stevia leaf is also a calorie-free, naturally occurring sweet ingredient. It is added to sugar substitutes to get the ideal level of sweetness. The amounts added here are moderate since overconsumption of stevia leaf extracts may lead to dietary side effects.
Things to Consider When Buying Sugar Replacements
Quantity
First thing's first, you must think about the quantity of sugar replacement to buy. This quantity is measured in ounces. The tip here is to go for the smallest size if it's your first time trying out that particular sugar replacement. You may go for the bigger bags once you're satisfied with the taste, texture, and feel of a sugar substitute.
Taste
Next, you must consider the taste of the sweetener you're planning to buy. Trust us, it isn't easy trying to adjust to a sweetener that doesn't taste like sugar. From baked goods to your morning coffee, everything will get affected. So, make sure the sugar replacement's taste closely matches the real thing. The best way to go about things here is to go through some customer reviews.
Cost of Sugar Replacements
On the pricing front, a sugar replacement can cost you anywhere between $0.5 and $1 per ounce. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect a smaller per ounce price when you buy more. Bulk buying to the rescue!
Also, you should anticipate a premium for richer blends. For example, pure blends of erythritol will be cheaper than when extracts of monk fruit or stevia leaf are added into the mix. Finally, brands will also charge a higher price tag when they have some sort of certification backing their product.
Additional Buying Tips
Lifestyle
Whether you follow a vegan diet or are all about that keto life, make sure the product you opt for complements your dietary needs. You can get a good idea of this by going through the ingredient list and some customer testimonials.
A look through the ingredient list of the sugar replacement will also steer you clear away from any potential allergens. Always remember, the ingredient list is sorted in order of predominance.
So, if you find any ingredients you're allergic to among the first five spots, that particular sugar substitute should be a big no. Anything below spot five should be safe. Still, be sure to check in with your physician as a precaution. Better safe than sorry, no?
Ease of use
Finally, your sugar substitute must also be easy to use. So, look for ones that are easy to mix and measure just like sugar. This will help save time in setting new measurements when you make the switch to a sweetener.
