Sugar certainly enhances the taste of your hot chocolate or your preferred dessert. But if consumed at an extensive rate, it will not only lead to weight gain but, also trigger diabetes and increase the chances of heart attacks. Sugar contains zero nutrition; therefore, it does no good to the body. Consuming sugar on a regular basis can also reduce your body’s capacity to combat infections.

We often crave for something sweet in the middle of the day and consuming a chunk of chocolate might not be the right thing to do. The taste of anything sweet is so pacifying that after one bite we feel like eating more unaware of the amount of damage it can do to our body.  

Today we will be talking about the natural substitutes of sugar which are healthy and also produces the sweet taste. So, let us have a look into the alternatives.

Date Palm: This edible sweet fruit not only tastes good but also contain very little fat. Dates are even packed with vitamins, proteins, and iron. So, whenever you get the feeling of having something sweet, you can surely have a handful of dates. You can also replace your jar of sugar with date syrup which is easily available in the market.

Maple Syrup: Most of you must be aware of maple syrup but, did you know it has anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties which work as a great alternative to sugar? A lot of you might like having your pancakes with a dollop of cholate spread but, it’s always better to make sugar-free pancakes at home and have it with maple syrup.

Honey: The amount of Glycemic Index is low in honey when compared to sugar therefore, it does not give rise to your blood sugar that easily. It also contains polyphenols which are an antioxidant that keeps the heart healthy. But you have to be very cautious while buying honey, make sure it’s pure and is not adulterated.

Natural Fruit Juices: What can be better than sipping on watermelon or chikoo juice on a hot summer day? Many of you may add sugar to your juices in order to enhance the taste but, it tastes more refreshing when you have it without adding anything. Fruit juices are natural sources of sugar which do wonders to your body

Many of you may feel why coconut sugar is not included in this list. The reason is it contains a very minimal amount of fibre and minerals and may affect your blood glucose level. A lot of people also use stevia as a sweetener but, reports say that it might have many side effects. Therefore, it's better not to use it. 

So, whenever you feel like having anything that includes sugar, think about all the demerits of it.