Since cutting sugar from my diet, and since I am unsure about the safety of artificial sweeteners (and therefore don’t use them), I have had to find some more natural ways to sweeten beverages (such as tea) and baked goods. My favorite is honey for my tea, but baked goods require something that isn’t as strong in flavor. You’ll have to experiment and see which you like best.
Here are a few natural sweeteners that I have found:
- Pure maple syrup
- Honey
- Stevia
- Sucanat
Agave nectar at one time was touted as the next best thing since sliced bread as “the best” natural sweetener for clean eaters; however, that has changed and I can no longer recommend agave nectar, although I fell for the spiel and did use it in recipes in the past. I realize some of the recipes on CEC still include agave, but I just haven’t had a chance to update those yet. For more on the agave controversy, check out this post from the Food Renegade: Agave Nectar: Good or Bad?
If you’re watching your weight or trying to lose weight or are a low-carb dieter, watch the calorie content of some of the natural sweeteners. Even though they’re natural, they do come with calories.
*First published May 29, 2008. Updated May 4, 2012.
What is your take on xylitol? I’ve been using it in my coffee in the morning, and it has no aftertaste like Stevia does (for me, at least). Would enjoy your findings on this stuff. Thanks!
Hi, Sheri, thanks for stopping by!
I personally think xylitol is fine. I tried it a couple years ago and you’re right, there was no aftertaste for me either, but it did a number on my stomach. So I haven’t used it since and that’s probably why I didn’t include it in my list…lol. As far as I understand, it’s naturally occurring in certain fruits and vegetables, so if it didn’t cause me to have stomach distress, I would have no qualms about having it on my personal “approved sweetener” list.
HTH!
What about Z Sweet? Loved it…no longer carried at Whole Foods but can get it online. Think I remember reading that it was recommeneded by Drs. Weil and Perricone.
Hi Grace,
You know, until now I had never heard of Z Sweet. I’ll have to check into that. Thanks!