Table of contents:
- Choice of spices that can be substituted for sugar
- 1. Vanilla
- 2. Cinnamon
- 3. Cardamom
- 4. Cloves
- 5. Nutmeg
- 6. Ginger
You certainly never miss sugar as one of the natural flavoring ingredients in every dish. However, do you remember that eating too much sugar can trigger diabetes? Take it easy, you can actually use a number of natural spices as a substitute for sugar, you know.
Choice of spices that can be substituted for sugar
1. Vanilla
Source: Eurovanille
Vanilla comes from plants Vanilla planifolia, a kind of long, thin pea. This plant is dark brown and gives off a sweet aroma. Vanilla plants can be processed into vanilla extract or vanilla powder which is widely used as a cooking spice to replace sugar.
Vanilla is a polyphenol which has strong antioxidant properties. Therefore, the intake of vanilla in food can help prevent damage to body cells and tissues and ward off free radicals.
For those of you who have high cholesterol problems, adding vanilla to your diet can help lower your cholesterol levels. In fact, this spice can also help relieve arthritis, gout, and other inflammatory conditions.
2. Cinnamon
Just as the name suggests, cinnamon has a naturally sweet taste that can be used in both powder and dry form. This spice is generally used as a substitute for table sugar or brown sugar that you normally use.
According to Dr. Ax, the benefits of cinnamon include inhibiting the release of sugar into the bloodstream thereby preventing feelings cravings sweet food. As a result, your body weight and blood sugar will not rise quickly after eating.
In addition, cinnamon contains zero sugar and calories, so it is very safe for use by people who have diabetes problems. So, don't hesitate to add a pinch of ground cinnamon to your favorite coffee, tea, yogurt, or oatmeal dish.
3. Cardamom
If you are looking for a natural sweetener that is safer than sugar, try cardamom. Yes, this spice can be used as a substitute for sugar because it has a sweet taste.
Cardamom is believed to have antioxidant properties so that it can prevent heart disease and cancer. In addition, its antioxidant content can also help strengthen body cells while fighting the effects of free radicals that can lead to disease.
Well, you can add cardamom to the spices for curries, opor curries, and even sweet foods such as cakes and sweet breads.
4. Cloves
The cloves you have been using are flower buds that come from the clove tree. This spice has a distinctive aroma and sweet taste. That is why cloves are widely used as a substitute for sugar in various types of dishes and tea dishes.
Cloves contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are beneficial for health. In addition, cloves also contain a compound called eugenol, a natural antioxidant that is five times more effective at warding off free radicals than vitamin E.
5. Nutmeg
You may often use nutmeg to give food a slightly spicy taste. Well, who would have thought that nutmeg could also be used as a substitute for sugar and flavoring in soups and other foods.
Nutmeg is known to have a myriad of health benefits. One of the components of nutmeg is similar to menthol, which both can relieve pain naturally. By adding it as a cooking spice, you can reduce pain associated with injuries, severe stress, and various types of inflammation such as arthritis (arthritis).
6. Ginger
For those of you who are on a diet and cravings sweet foods, of course, you have to rack your brain to reduce the desire to eat sugar. Don't worry, you can replace the sugar in your diet with ginger.
By using ginger, your dish will have a strong aroma, slightly sweet taste, and slightly spicy. Use ginger in food by ground, grated, or grilled first before mixing it into cooking.
