If you are on a sugar free diet (candida) or you just want to cut back on sugars in your diet there are plenty of options available so don't fret!

One thing to be aware of is to avoid any chemical alternatives that you find in the supermarket, they are not a healthy option and should be avoided. This goes for all products marketed as 'sugar free' unless they have a healthy sugar alternative added, such as the products listed below.

Here are a few good sugar alternatives.

HIGHER NATURE ZYLOSWEET

This natural sweetener, Xylitol, tastes like sugar but has 40% fewer calories (one teaspoon supplies 9.6 calories), so it’s ideal as part of a weight management programme. Used to sweeten drinks, desserts and cooking, ZyloSweet has a low glycaemic index (GI) so it has minimal impact on blood glucose levels.

XYLOBRIT

SUITABLE FOR DIABETICS

XyloBrit does not require Insulin to be metabolised and is suitable for use by diabetics.

Xylobrit has the same taste, texture and sweetness as ordinary sugar. It can be used just like ordinary sugar in hot and cold drinks, and sprinkled on desserts and cereals on a one-for-one basis. XyloBrit may have a pleasant cooling-effect in the mouth when used on cold desserts.

In home baking you can try replacing the ordinary sugar in the recipe with Xylobrit on a one-for-one basis, or 2/3 XyloBrit and 1/3 Fruisana Fruit Sugar.

SWEET FREEDOM

100% from fruit this syrup is low GL. There are two types one is dark and is a replacement for honey and sweet syrups and the other is suitable for everything from a cup of tea to baking. They were great taste gold winners in 2009 and have become more and more popular since then.

25% lower calories than sugar

Diabetics (as part of a healthy diet)

Low GL (glycaemic load)

Vegan

GM & gluten free

Low in fructose

No need to refrigerate.

AGAVE SYRUP

Suitable for vegetarians agave come from a cactus like plant that is native to Mexico. It is intensely sweet and has a mild flavour, making it an excellent alternative to sugar, honey maple syrup and artificial sweeteners in baking and in drinks.

So if you have decided to cut out refined cane sugar don't worry there are plenty of alternatives in your local health store.