Sweet n' Healthy

Safer Sweeteners: Stevia, Just Like Sugar

Common sugars and sweeteners :

White sugar (sucrose) is a pure chemical extract of sugar cane or sugar beet with no vitamins or minerals; these are stripped during the extraction process. Refined white sugar is a simple carbohydrate with lots of calories, no dietary fiber and is an isolate which do not occur in whole foods. Vegetarians may note that it may be processed with bone charcoal.
Brown sugar (processed) is white sugar coated in molasses which will add a few trace minerals but no healthier than white sugar.
Granulated cane juice is whole cane sugar before final liquid extraction. Slightly healthier than table sugar as it contains small amounts of vitamins and minerals.
Sucanat is made from sugar cane, usually organically grown, and minimally processed to obtain juice to make syrup (the molasses is not removed). The syrup is dehydrated and milled into a powder. It is full of potassium, vitamin A, calcium, iron, magnesium and small amounts of other vitamins and minerals.
Fructose is not from fruit; it is a commercial, refined sugar and it is no more nutritious than sucrose. It raises cholesterol, makes blood cells more prone to clotting, and it may also accelerate the aging process.
Honey is similar to table sugar. Pure raw Honey (not heated above 100 degrees) contains small amounts of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, flavonoids and antioxidants. Some research to suggest honey helps in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
Fruit juice concentrate is refined, has high sugar content and may contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals.
Maple syrup is made from the sap of sugar maple trees. B Grade organic maple syrup is considered a health product. It has some minerals and vitamins.
Rice syrup & barley malt is made from grains and has a higher percentage of complex carbohydrates making absorption rate is slower than white sugar, minimizing the roller-coaster effect of high then low energy levels.
Molasses is a by-product of sugar cane or beet sugar refining. High in B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chromium, manganese and zinc. The blackstrap variety is less refined and higher in nutrients. Buy unsulphured molasses, as sulphur can be toxic in high doses.
Coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut flowers by boiling it down to dry sugar blocks or a soft paste or a granulated form. Coconut sugar contains higher amount of nutrients compared to brown sugar as it has some amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, sulfur, and micro nutrients.
Palm sugar is extracted from the sap of date palm trees and palmyra palms which is said to be the best. It also can be extracted from sago and coconut palms. It is commonly used in Southeast Asia called Jaggery and gur. It high in amino acids, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Iron and has some vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6. It also has an absorption rate is slower than that of white sugar.
Agave nectar is juice extracted from agave which is the same plant they make tequila from. It is 42 percent sweeter than white sugar but has the same caloric value and a low glycemic index, a measurement of the relative ability of a carbohydrate to raise blood glucose levels. It also has an absorption rate is slower than that of white sugar.
Date sugar is not really a sugar as it is made from ground, dehydrated dates containing all the vitamins, minerals and fiber found in the fruit. Date sugar is rich in nutrients and is metabolized more slowly than sugar.
Sugar alcohols (Erythritol, Isomalt, Lactitol, Maltitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Xylitol Hydrogenated Starch, Hydrolysates) are neither sugars nor alcohols. They do have calories; Xylitol has more than half the calories of white sugar. The only problems I could find about it is when they are eaten in excessive amounts they can cause gastrointestinal side effects (bloating and diarrhea), weight gain and increased blood sugars. Still they are not whole foods so caution must be used; the recommendation is to not use them on a regular basis.
Stevia is a natural sugar alternative that actually nourishes the pancreas that has been shown to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure. Stevia is a complex sugar extract from the plant Stevia Rebaudiana grown in South America. It is a food herb native to the Paraguayan Indians who used it before colonization by the Spaniards in the 16th century.The Brazilian Journal of Medicine showed that Stevia Rebaudiana actually 'increased glucose tolerance.' Because stevia is very sweet, you only need to use a small amount and the best thing is that it virtually has no calories.
(most of the information above is from Real Food for Life)