Vegan sugars and natural sweeteners
What is vegan sugar made of? How do I know if my sugar is vegan? And what are vegan alternatives to sugar?
Yes, we hear you; navigating the world of vegan sugar and vegan natural sweeteners can seem a bit like a minefield, right?
But once you know what's what, you can enjoy vegan sugar, sweeteners, and alternatives in all their glory, because you know about them.
This article aims to help you reach that point by answering some tricky but key questions about vegan sugar and sweeteners.
What is vegan sugar composed of?
Vegan sugar is unrefined sugar made from sugar beets. You know, the stuff you usually put in your tea, sprinkle on your cereal, or use for baking. Vegan sugar is beet sugar. This is because beet sugar is not made from bone char, i.e., burned animal bones. During the refined sugar production process, sugarcane stalks are crushed to separate the juice from the pulp. The juice is then processed, filtered, and bleached with bone char (bone char gives sugar its pure white color). It's worth noting here that although most white cane sugar comes into contact with animal bones (bone char), none of this bone char ends up in the final product we take home.
Before we move on to the next point, we wanted to point out another equally important and interesting fact about brown sugar.
This type of sugar is typically produced by adding molasses to refined (cane) sugar, which usually means that manufacturers who use bone char to produce white sugar do the same for brown sugar. So, don't assume that brown is different just because it's brown; in all likelihood, it has also come into contact with animal bones at some point.
How do I know if my sugar is vegan?
What is the best and easiest way to check if your sugar is vegan or not? That's right, just check the ingredient list.
If the label says organic, it means it wasn't made with bone char. And if it's not organic, check if it's unrefined or made from beets. In fact, any type of beet or coconut sugar is vegan-friendly.
What are vegan alternatives to sugar?
There are several different vegan sugar alternatives, including:
Stevia - a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the Stevia Rebaudiana plant, which is an herb. One of the biggest advantages of replacing refined sugar with Stevia is that it has a very low calorie content.
Fructose - a sugar naturally found in fruits and vegetables. It is also found in fruit juice concentrates, which are commonly used for making vegan desserts.
Agave nectar - also known as agave syrup, it is a liquid sweetener derived from the sap of the blue agave plant native to Mexico. It is described as a cross between honey and pure maple syrup, which leads us to the next vegan sugar substitute on the list...
Maple syrup - as the name suggests, maple syrup comes from maple trees, specifically from their sap. There is also maple sugar, a granulated sweetener made from evaporated maple syrup, which is a common substitute for crystalline white sugar.
Barley malt syrup - another syrup, this one is made from evaporated corn mash and sprouted barley. It is not as sweet as sugar, tastes reminiscent of molasses, and is often used to replace honey or sugar in recipes.
The benefits of replacing sugar with vegan sugar and vegan sweeteners
1. They are kinder to our waistlines and our teeth
Unfortunately, consuming too much sugar can cause weight gain. It can also cause tooth decay. "Free sugars" should account for no more than 5% of the calories we get from our daily diet.
Meanwhile, we don't need to cut down on sugar naturally occurring in foods like fruit, vegetables, and milk. Switching to vegan products containing natural forms of sugar can therefore potentially help with calorie control, weight loss/gain, and might be better for our teeth too.
2. They contain more natural nutrients
Sugar occurring in its natural form or that which is not highly processed is healthier because it contains more nutrients from the source, which our bodies use to prevent insulin spikes. Coconut sugar is a fabulous example of this. It contains potassium, magnesium, and sodium, all of which are essential for regulating the body's hydration as well as for various heart, nerve, and muscle functions. It contains 400 times more potassium than regular sugar.
3. They can have an antioxidant effect
Coconut sugar is once again famous for this. Because it is made from dehydrated coconut sap, it is considered a raw food, meaning it does not lose its valuable antioxidants during the production process. These antioxidants are responsible for preventing the oxidation of the body's cells, which in turn helps prevent aging.
Vitamins for a healthy lifestyle: Holland & Barrett vitamins, Nordvital vitamins
Sources:
https://www.mydarlingvegan.com/is-sugar-vegan/
https://www.vegan.com/sugar/#:~:text=This%20sugar%20is%20made%20from,yummiest%20substances%20on%20the%20planet.
https://www.peta2.com/vegan-life/is-sugar-vegan/#:~:text=Yes.,coconut%20sugar%20is%20vegan%2Dfriendly.
https://www.peta2.com/vegan-life/is-sugar-vegan/#:~:text=Yes.,coconut%20sugar%20is%20vegan%2Dfriendly.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/203571-vegan-sugar-substitutes/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-does-sugar-in-our-diet-affect-our-health/
https://thebeet.com/your-ultimate-guide-to-healthier-sugar-choose-vegan-and-natural-sweeteners/
https://www.peta.org/living/food/health-food-coconut-sugar/
https://www.peta.org/living/food/health-food-coconut-sugar/
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