Are Sugar Substitutes Actually Healthy? Here Is Everything You Need to Know
Hey guys!
There are plenty of reasons to eat less sugar, but it’s HARD! It’s hiding in SO MANY THINGS! If you figure out how to avoid it (or at least cut back), then you have to figure out healthy ways to replace it while still satisfying your sweet tooth.
And of course…there are about a bajillion options to choose from. There are sugar substitutes, and then there are natural sweeteners. Some are super processed. Some just taste really gross.
So how do you know what to choose?! One minute honey is in the spotlight, and then all of a sudden honey isn’t healthy. Then, agave nectar is the answer! BUT as soon as you try it, you read that it’s just as bad (or worse) than sugar!
UGH. Sooooo frustrating.
So… I decided to do my own research about sugar substitutes and natural sweeteners to help us all sift through the conflicting advice.
Oh and before we start… I’m NOT saying to cut sugar cold turkey, because who am I to say it’s necessary (or even possible) to avoid all of your favorite sweets forever?!! We gotta keep things realistic! Okay, ready?!
Stevia
We’ve all seen stevia. But is it really natural and safe?
Natural? Yes. Healthy? Probably…in it’s whole raw form. And that’s where we run into some issues.
The stevia products you see on store shelves are usually refined/blended with other sweeteners. For example, Truvia is technically blended with erythritol (another sweetener we’ll talk about in a sec). Stevia in the Raw packets are a blend of refined stevia and dextrose.
That being said, it’s still a good option if you need a sweetener without the calories, or if you’re trying to control your blood sugar. It’s WAYYYY sweeter than sugar (up to 350 times sweeter….what?!), and might taste a little different than real sugar.
Sucralose
AKA Splenda.
Soooo… sucralose is pretty controversial. It’s an artificial sweetener, meaning it’s chemically made. Most experts promise that it’s safe to use, but the long-term effects of using it are still a little unclear. Although it’s a zero-calorie sweetener, some studies show it can still affect your blood sugar.
It’s still a really popular alternative to sugar that a lot of people love to use for baking.
I think the taste is extremely sweet and there are definitely better (less processed) options out there.
Monk Fruit
This is usually my go-to sugar sub. Since it’s extracted from a fruit, it’s minimally processed. The cool thing about it is that it’s suuuuuper sweet, but it’s sweetness doesn’t come from sugar. It comes from mogrosides, which are antioxidants! When monk fruit is processed to make a sweetener, the glucose and fructose from the fruit are removed, leaving only the super sweet mogrosides with basically no calories.
BUT some monk fruit sweetener products are mixed with other sweeteners – so check the label to be sure the product you get is high quality and pure!
Coconut Sugar
I see coconut sugar alllll the time for “healthy” baking recipes. It’s important to know that it’s a natural sweetener and NOT a sugar substitute. That basically just means that even though it’s not as refined as white sugar…it’s still sugar.
However. Coconut sugar DOES have a lower glycemic index than white sugar, meaning it won’t raise your blood sugar as quickly. It also has a little inulin which is a type of soluble fiber.
Basically, it might be A LITTLE better than regular sugar, but I still wouldn’t go crazy with it.
Maple Syrup
The story with maple syrup is basically the same of coconut sugar. Sure, it’s natural and better than refined white sugar. And yes, it has some antioxidants and minerals (if you get the pure, unprocessed stuff). But… it’s still sugar and will raise your blood sugar and pack your food with extra calories. It’s a better choice than refined sugar, so I’d say definitely use your favorite high-quality syrup on your pancakes, but go easy on your portions. And…it’s kind of expensive to use a lot of anyways!
Honey
So… honey.
I see it ALLLL THE TIME in recipes that are supposed to be “healthy.” And a lot of the time, those recipes are mostly healthy! But here’s the thing. If a recipe contains a half cup of honey, then it’s still going to have a ton of sugar in it.
Just like coconut sugar and maple syrup, honey has some great qualities! It has antioxidants and it’s a great anti-inflammatory food. It might even help prevent allergies if you get your hands on some that’s locally made.
No need to avoid honey completely, just don’t fall for the idea that you can eat as much as you want without it affecting your body basically the same way as refined sugar.
Agave Nectar
Agave was a super trendy sugar substitute for awhile. It’s marketed as this super healthy option but did you know…
- It has more calories than actual sugar?
- Agave nectar is suuuuuper high in fructose, which is the type of sugar most harmful to the body?
- It’s really not much healthier than sugar or high-fructose corn syrup.
- It’s made from the same plant used to make tequila (okay – that one was just a fun bonus!)
Agave nectar MIGHT be better for people with diabetes because of its low glycemic index. But overall, it’s not a great alternative to sugar. But marketing REALLY tricked people!
Xylitol & Erythritol
Xylitol and erythritol are sugar alcohols. They’re usually found in stuff that’s labeled as “sugar-free,” and I see it a lot in protein bars and powders.
Sugar alcohols are a good substitute for sugar because they don’t contain any fructose, have fewer calories than sugar, and don’t affect your blood sugar.
Of course there are some downsides to sugar alcohols – sometimes eating too many can cause some less than ideal symptoms like gas and bloating. Xylitol is also toxic for dogs!
Personally, I don’t love the taste of sugar alcohols. But some people don’t mind!
So…are sugar substitutes healthy?
Here’s the bottom line:
Sugar substitutes can help you eat less sugar, and natural sweeteners are just a slightly healthier form of added sugar.
My best advice is to choose the least processed sugar substitute and don’t assume that foods with natural sweeteners are automatically healthy. As always, everything is fine in moderation.
What’s your go-to sugar sub? Lemme know in the comments!
56 thoughts on “Are Sugar Substitutes Actually Healthy? Here Is Everything You Need to Know”
There are Array56 comments posted by our users.
Exactly! Love your thoughts Cassey 😘
Thank you!!
Thank you for sharing! Sometimes one tends to fell desparate when you notice that your tummy is not as flat as you would like it. With that being said you are willing to try anything.
Loads of love coming your way Cassey ❤️ Thank you for all you do, you are a wonder!
The struggle is real! Fake or manufactured sweeteners are in nearly everything. This hit home for me more than you may know. My children and I are allergic to fake/unnatural sweeteners. If we consume these products, the resulting effects can be pretty nasty and/or debilitating. We have found a good number of the so-call natural alternatives are not much different than the fake stuff. All those human made chemicals stay in your system longer than regular suger. For us, it is all a balancing act in moderation. Best of luck to everyone!
I was just talking to my husband about this topic earlier. I noticed since the whole quarantine and gyms shutting down, I’ve gained quite a bit.
It wasn’t until I saw how much I gained, my mood changed. I got so down… I started thinking of “quick” ways to loose the weight. After reading this, I will definitely try a safer approach like substituting my morning coffee to green tea instead, I’ve tried oolong tea but I found out I was allergic to it lol Subtile changes to the way I eat… if anyone else has any other tips, feel free to share! 😊
Cassey, this came at the most perfect time so thank you!
So for honey, I never use the actual amount recommended in the recipe because it is just way too sweet and gross for me. Example: Pb Muffins; 1/3 c honey. What I actually use: 1-2tbs honey. So I think if you just reduce the amount of honey you use in recipes it is still healthy. Someone correct me if Im wrong pls☺
Thank you for putting a short list of these ingredients to watch out for.
I’ve heard that Stevia can increase the risk of cancer… Cassey, what are your thoughts on this?
I should say you really think about ur followers ..none of the so called “influencers ” out there are going to take so much pain to do these researchs and then post them to guide others. Thanks for ur whole hearted support.
Some times we are so much tempted by the ads which seem so real & the celebrities so sincere. And then a real friend pull us out from the dungeon 😍 Lots of love my friend,Cassey🥰
Monk fruit and stevia are usually my go-to for coffee or tea. Sugar in the little things we consume on the daily makes their caloric density deceivingly high. I dislike when people bring “morals” of consuming sweeteners into it, it’s essentially just math, and I would rather have lower calories in my beverages! Especially lemonade because it helps me drink more water 😛
I have never seen Monk Fruit sugar! I am so intrigued right now. It sounded like the best alternative along with the sugar alcohol (in my opinion)
Hi Cassey!
I started working for a small, organic, local farm recently. I learned that Stevia is a herb plant like chives, basil, cilantro, etc.! We grow it and sell the fresh leaves. It can be used to sweetened things like iced tea. I think using the actual Stevia plant instead of buying it processed at the store is a great alternative! Especially if it’s organic.
I’ve been using Xylitol and Coconut Sugar when I don’t use regular sugar cane, but I want to try Monk Fruit!
I also sometimes use dates / date syrup I make myself in my blender
Hi Cassey! Love that you decided to do a piece on this! Could you possibly elaborate on what “affect your blood sugar” implies in regard to Sucralose? Also could you clarify on which studies? Study size, duration, and over all execution can really make a vast difference as to whether data is reliable!
Stevia! Finally converted from aspartame about a year ago.
This is great information! Thanks for compiling Cassey. It seems that regardless of what you prefer or what better fits your lifestyle, everything is simply better in moderation.
Hi Cassey, just to let you know, the body identifies sugar from coconut sugar, maple syrup, agave, and honey all the same… sucrose is sucrose and obviously, given that its made of fructose and glucose, fructose will similarly impact blood glucose levels (a conversion of fructose to glucose easily takes place, but also fructose bypasses certain steps in common biochemical processes leading to lower energy pay off when used as the substrate). Dextrose is chemically identical to glucose (C6H12O6) and is therefore metabolized the same way. To be clear, stevia is mixed with either erythritol or maltodextrin… stevia is not mixed with a sugar (maltodextrose and maltodextrin are NOT the same thing). Sweeteners are okay in moderation, but there are different ADI’s for different ones (ADI = acceptable daily intake), and sucralose is largely considered safe for diabetics (according to dietitians). Sweeteners are fine, but don’t go over board. Added sugar in one’s diet includes natural sugars (honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup, agave), but not fruit, and there is a limit to how much added sugar you should consume/day, and I would argue it to be even more beneficial to stick to a low sugar diet if one is sedentary.
What do you think about jaggery and dates? Are those a better option? Because I use them instead of white sugar.
Jaggary has the same calories as sugar and it effects the blood sugar in the same way but it is not processed as white sugar therefore retains some benefits
On the other hand dates have low glycemic index than sugar but eating all these in moderation is the key .
Hope u find it helpful
I really dislike using non calorie fake sweeteners – I think there’s something metabolically that happens when you eat a sweet thing but your body does not get any actual sugar. For sweetening things when needed, I do use dates and date syrup and sometimes lucuma powder. And sometimes honey. We just eat sweet things in moderation around here and enjoy them when we do.
Jaggery
We use xylitol on our chewing gum, it’s actually good for your teeth! But obviously as you stated for the side effects your not meant to eat gums all at once, just one after each meal/5 grams a day.
Hey – thanks for sharing. What are your thoughts on dates? I usually grind dates into a semi liquid form and use in recipes
My go to is date sugar because unlike all the others you listed. It is the physical date ground up, no processing.
Lakanto monkfruit sweetner at Costco is the best deal I found so far..If anyone is wondering where to get it from…
Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener.. it’s an easy 1:1 replacement and no peculiar after taste like stevia or any sugar alcohols. Love it ❤️ Great blog Cassey!!
The Monk Fruit substitution sounds amazing, where did you find it?!
Fruits like Mangoes are unhealthy too? Because they are sweet as well. Although they have fructose in them.
The Monk Fruit substitution sounds amazing, where did you find it?!
Hey Cassey, What do you think about Jagger?
Sorry I meant Jaggery
A registered dietitian could really be a great resource the more you go into a view on what is “healthy” in a diet. Fun read, but it would be nice to have an expert opinion or resources for these discussions.
I agree. I find a lot of these blog posts to be fluff and lacking in solid information for actual lifestyle choices.
I actually did consult with a Registered Dietitian for this post (and many of my more science-y food posts are all run by an RD for clarity and fact checking). I’ll make that clearer next time!
Thank you, Cassey! I appreciate knowing that as I continue to follow your posts.
(Side note) I’ve been doing your videos for years. Your ab videos have helped me stay fit and safe as a nurse. Thank you for the uplifting and helpful content!
whoever you consulted with does not have a firm grasp on food chemistry…
I love to use honey! y actually find it quite sweet so using it has helped me to cut the amount of sugar I eat in general.
Mine is monk fruit second stevia I don’t mind the sugar alcohols I only use in my one cup of coffee a day
How do I know this info is accurate
We use monkfruit a lot to replace sugar in recipes. I also like maple syrup for recipes that call for a liquid sweetener, but I use it sparingly since like you said, it’s kind of expensive for the good pure stuff.
Honey! But not that take one from stores. That one it’s everything but not honey. I buy celan honey from local producers and you have to be careful even with them because they add some things in it.
I’ve been using allulose for homemade vegan ice cream and sorbet I notice not much bloating and gas especially compared to erythritol. Any notes on that ( I think it’s pretty new)?
I like to use organic cane sugar! Monk fruit’s my favorite zero-cal sweetener, but at the end of the day Zulka Morena cane sugar is super affordable and I’ve never had problems when consuming sugar. The way I see it when it comes to sugar, it all depends on your perspective. Yes, sugar is basically empty calories, but calories of any kind still give you energy. I usually end up using up that energy because when I feel… well, energetic, I end up wanting to get up and do things like dancing and cleaning the house after I’ve had a sweet snack. That’s probably oversimplifying it, but for that reason I don’t really fear sugar (as a snack, anyways) 🙂
I use monk fruit from LAKANTO and sometimes Truvia, thank you so much for this information Cassey because it’s true we have to read the ingredients ALWAYS.
I do not use sugar substitutes. I try to practice moderation instead, because unless it’s maple syrup (a food group up here in Canada) or honey it either tastes weird or causes bloating. It’s just not worth it.
Enjoy your baking, learn how to properly freeze doughs so you can bake off a few things at a time, and lower the amount of sugar where you can. Live a balanced life and you don’t need that stuff (unless you’re diabetic).
Yes! 👍
I use Whole Earth Natural Stevia Monk Fruit sweetener for my Teas and Coffee. However, for my cooking and baking, I use Allulose. It’s zero calories, 70% as sweet as sugar, looks like sugar, no after taste, and bakes just like Sugar. It’s also great for Diabetics, Keto/Paleo Diets. I am a Cancer Survivor, and am missing a major organ. Also, diabetes runs in my family even though I don’t have it, I would rather ensure that I don’t, and by using Allulose (though a bit expensive), it assists with my sweet tooth cravings, and has been my absolute go too.
So far, I’ve tried Stevia, the refined one: my complaint about this one is the fact that I was never able to measure it correctly when using it for baking or other type of recipes. The outcome was either too sweet or not sweet enough. The most natural form of stevia I have ever found was some weird green powder (at least the producer said it’s in its most authentic form). I must say that the smell and taste of this were awful – it was barely sweet and it smelled like leaves or grass.
Also tried erythritol. I also found it hard to measure it for recipes and that chemical taste was not easy to ignore…
I am using honey and brown sugar oftenly, as I am trying to limit the amount of refined sugar I use.
I use non GMO Trivia, Dr. Berg said it’s safe.
Honey, in moderation, is my go to sweetener. I love the taste, the colors, the way it feels. I like putting in my morning coffee. However, lately I go to whole fruits for my sugar fix.
Raw sugar and honey in moderation! (Honey also helps me greatly with my allergies!)
Years ago I did a science experiment with sugar and ants. The next morning all the regular sugar was gone – what remained was Stevia and Sucralose….. both with a ring of dead ants around them.
Eh… no thank you.
Fake sweeteners give me massive stomach aches anyhow.
Keep it natural. Keep it in moderation.
I’ve used Stevia in the past, and sometimes when I’m baking a cake.
But I often use honey when I’m having something like a breakfast bowl or porridge. I don’t think a little sugar here and there is a bad thing, sometimes I need a sweet pick-me-up! Xx
Thanks for the info on sweeteners Cassey!
I have read that our brains don’t actually know the difference between the taste of actual sugar and sweeteners, so we will still be craving sugar despite only eating foods with sweeteners in them (so although they may have much less calories, they don’t ‘curb’ sugar cravings if we tend to get them!).
I have been trying to get my sugar fix from fruits lately, namely grapes and bananas! And putting a little bit of honey into some plain greek yoghurt with berries for my breakfast 🙂 It can be pretty hard as I have a MAJOR sweet tooth.
P.S. 3 months down of doing your calendars today, looking forward to doing the PIIT28 starter calendar for July to get my fitness up even more!