The average American consumes a whopping 20 teaspoons of sugar
per day—more than twice the USDA-recommended amount. The next
time a recipe calls for white cane sugar, consider one of these
low-glycemic alternatives.
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Erythritol
Powder derived from the
sugar alcohol in pears, grapes, and melons.
Low cal (0.2 calories per
gram)
FDA approved as a
sweetener
High doses can cause
stomach upset
Use an equal amount to
replace sugar in any recipe
Look for it as
Zsweet
Stevia
Powder or liquid extract
from the leaves of the South American stevia (Stevia rebaudiana
bertoni) plant.
Calorie-free
Heat stable
200 times sweeter than
cane sugar
Can have a bitter
aftertaste
FDA-approved as a dietary
supplement only
Great for baking; try it
in brownies and fudge
1 teaspoon pure stevia
extract is as sweet as 1 cup of sugar
Xylitol
Powder derived from the
sugar alcohol in plums, strawberries, and raspberries.
Helps prevent tooth decay
by inhibiting bacteria
40 percent fewer calories
than sugar; same sweetness
High doses (30 grams per
day) may cause stomachaches