The Perils of Too Much Sugar

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Petitions were filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1990s to recognize stevia as a food additive, but American companies weren’t willing to pay for the testing required to prove its safety, since the herb’s use as a sweetener couldn’t be patented, meaning they couldn’t recoup the research money. While the FDA has not yet approved stevia as a food additive, it’s offered as a supplement in health food stores.

Stevia plants are also widely available at garden centers. Stevia is easy to grow in containers, as well as in the garden. Simply harvest and dry the leaves, then crumble them into a powder. Stevia plants are not winter hardy in cold northern zones, so you’ll need to bring your plants indoors or start with new ones each spring.

Sweeter Choices

Health food stores offer many alternatives to refined sugar. Although these sugars are natural, that doesn’t mean you should consume more. But many do offer a few health advantages, as well as more interesting flavors than refined table sugar.

Amasake: A delicate liquid sweetener made by inoculating cooked sweet rice with another fermented rice called koji. It can be used as a base for custards, puddings and drinks or to lend a mild sweetness and moist texture to baked goods.

Barley malt syrup: Whole grain barley is soaked and sprouted, activating enzymes that convert carbohydrates into sugars. The sprouted grain is then cured and processed into syrup, which contains some potassium. About the consistency of molasses, but much lighter in flavor, this rich brown sweetener works well in breads, cakes, muffins and barbecue sauces.

Brown rice syrup: Similar to barley malt syrup, but milder in flavor, rice syrup is made by fermenting cooked brown rice with sprouted barley grain. The enzymes in the sprouted barley convert rice starches into sugar. Rice syrup can be used interchangeably with honey.

Date sugar: A true fruit sugar, date sugar is nothing more than ground dried dates. The resulting powder contains small amounts of several vitamins and minerals.

Fruit juice concentrate: When it comes down to it, fruit juice concentrate is very similar in chemical composition to regular sugar — it’s mostly sucrose along with some fructose. Even though they’re just fruit, concentrates aren’t as good for you as fresh fruit because the sugars are intensified while the fiber is left behind.

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