The Right Sweets for You

It’s possible to cut down on refined sugar and still keep it sweet...

Our body doesn’t really care that it is the holiday season, refined sugar is one of the worst disturbances to our health.

At the end of the day, you are the boss of what you put inside your body. And if you like to consume sweets, you may as well choose those that contain nutrients and minerals such as:

Dates are great for a healthy dessert and are a good binder to combine ingredients in a dessert recipe. Rich in antioxidants, iron, potassium, and soluble fibre to curb the appetite.

Raw honey is only best when consumed raw, not cooked or heated. Most commercial honey is pasteurised which destroys valuable nutrition. Raw honey contains medicinal benefits to treat coughs, cramps, burns, congestion and diarrhoea. It also has antibacterial properties to kill dangerous bacteria on the inside and outside of the body. UMF, MGO and NPA are used on honey labels to indicate how antibacterial the honey is. The higher the figures shown, the more antibacterial properties it contains. MGO 900+, UMF 25+ or NPA 25+ are ultra high and used for wound care.

Carob molasses is an iron-rich sweetener. A good substitute for syrups in baking. Some molasses could have sulphite residues so select those that are sulphite free.

Coconut sugar is one of the most nutritious and sustainable sugars available. Although it is unrefined it is still high in natural fructose sugar. Rich in many trace vitamins and minerals. It’s a good brown sugar replacement.

Pure maple syrup will only be pure when you purchase it as ‘certified organic’ and ‘grade A’. The cost of the pure maple syrup will reflect its quality. Also contains minerals of zinc, manganese, copper, potassium and other trace minerals. This is a good substitute for refined syrups for pancakes and waffles. It is still sweet - use small amounts.

100% pure stevia (not blended with erythritol) is only 100% when it is not blended with other sweeteners such as erythritol. It’s hard to find the real thing. Stevia comes from a green stevia leaf. It is 30 times sweeter than sugar and has no calories. The unprocessed original stevia can only be found in selected health stores.

Dark chocolate. The higher the percentage of cocoa added, the less sugar it contains. You can find 99% cocoa dark chocolate, if you are fond of its bitter taste but superb nutrition. Cocoa powder is loaded with antioxidants, flavonoids and minerals such as magnesium and potassium which are important for heart health and weight loss. Cocoa also contains fibre to help you feel fuller for longer.

The “undutched” chocolate varieties are healthiest because they are not treated with alkali to remove the healthful antioxidants and flavonoids. Undutched dark chocolate will ensure the healthful antioxidants and flavonoids are preserved such as Lindt 85%, Ghirardelli, Green and Blacks, PANA, Alter Eco or Hu dark chocolate.

If you're not fond of dark chocolate, Start with 65% cocoa dark chocolate and increase the percentage slowly as your taste buds adjust.

Happy holiday,