In this article, we will examine some type of natural sweeteners and compare them to Date liquid sugar.

A preference for sweet tastes in a wide range of intensities is a human trait Species. Taste buds develop in the fetus until the 16th week of pregnancy a newborn baby is able to respond positively to sweet solutions. Sugar Loaf It is a natural sweetener that has 4 calories per gram. Admits High consumption of sugar increases energy intake, which in turn It can lead to weight gain and chronic diseases related to obesity and teeth Therefore, there is a need for sugar substitutes that can help reduce caries Calorie intake, especially in overweight people, requires new calories it has “low calorie” alternative sweeteners for dietary and diabetic purposes increased worldwide. Countries have substituted compound mixtures or refined extracts as pure compounds Many artificial sweeteners that are widely used are carcinogenic, genes, and non-nutritive.Therefore, the demand for natural sweets has increased a lot.

Below we will review some natural sweeteners and review each natural sweetener for diabetics and other people and find out which one is a better alternative to refined sugars.

• Stevia

Stevia is a very popular low-calorie sweetener. One of the most popular natural sweeteners is stevia, which is extracted from a plant called Stevia rebaudiana. This plant is extracted in South and North America, and today China is the largest exporter of this plant. This plant is very bitter when it is harvested and has an unpleasant smell. Today, the products known as stevia in the market usually contain a small amount of stevia, and many brands combine this plant with an extract called rebodioside A. They combine this sweetener from new, new and different compounds such as erythritol – which is a sugar alcohol – rebodioside A and dextrose, or glucose, although some brands sell the extract of this plant in pure form.The stevia plant is almost 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar and this plant is very popular due to the lack of calories and the positive effect it has on lowering blood pressure, but since the raw stevia has a bitter taste after the implementation of many purification processes. It loses its minerals and it can almost be said that it is a non-nutritive sweetener.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above for stevia sweetener, this plant may also cause side effects for some people, such as: People who have problems with low blood pressure, it is recommended not to use this sweetener too much because this substance causes dilation. Blood vessels that cause more pressure drop in such people. Also, the blood sugar in stevia may be a useful sugar substitute for people with diabetes and help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.However, some research shows that stevia It may negatively affect the gut microbiome.

• Agave

Agave syrup or agave nectar is one of the known natural sweeteners. This sweetener is similar to honey, but it is thinner than honey. This nectar is extracted from a plant called agave. This plant grows in Mexico and South Africa. Due to its high solubility, this nectar is used in preparing cocktails and smoothies. Agave syrup consists of fructose and glucose, which means it has a lower glycemic index than sucrose or ordinary sugar, and it can be concluded that agave is processed more slowly by the body and absorbed by blood sugar, and this causes a rapid increase in blood insulin. Agave contains much more fructose than sucrose (table sugar). Agave syrup is available in different colors and the darker the color, the stronger the taste.If you want to use natural sweeteners like agave nectar, it’s important to look for an ethical brand because they process the syrup at low temperatures, which preserves the plant’s natural enzymes and similar enzymes. Those who prefer agave should pay attention to this point. This plant has no effect on blood sugar, but due to its high fructose, it is difficult for the body to process it, and this issue can cause unpleasant side effects such as bloating and problems in people with low fructose absorption.

• HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup)

What is HFCS or high fructose corn syrup?
HFCS, also known as high fructose corn syrup, is a sweet compound derived from corn starch. This starch is a combination of glucose molecules that are connected to each other, and by separating these molecules, this product or syrup with 100% glucose is obtained. In the preparation of this product, other enzymes are also combined with this substance to convert some of this glucose into a simpler sugar called fructose, which is the same as fruit sugar, and there are many formulations with different amounts of fructose. The most common forms of HFCS contain 42 or 55 percent fructose. High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener that has attracted a lot of attention in carbonated drinks and has always been used.The reason HFSC is found in most products today is that it is a cheap sweetener and food companies usually prefer it over cane sugar to cut costs. The use of this sweetener in the production of products makes these products last longer.
Your body digests HFCS differently than glucose, and it turns to fat more easily and affects your appetite and blood glucose differently because it contains slightly more fructose than cane sugar. Corn syrup also contains harmful neurotoxins.
Consuming fructose has many health consequences, such as increasing the body’s resistance to insulin, obesity, liver disorders, and diabetes. Fructose metabolism begins with the phosphorylation of fructose by the fructose kinase in the liver, and this process is not feedback regulated.Therefore, high fructose intake can decrease ATP, increase uric acid production, and increase nucleotide turnover. The result of this review focuses on the hepatic manifestations of fructose-related hepatic metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, obesity due to increased lipogenesis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and type 2 diabetes.

• Date Liquid Sugar

Date liquid sugar is produced from date juice after extraction, purification, as well as pectin compounds, protein, fiber and color, and its color varies from brown to light yellow. Date liquid sugar with Brix 68-74% has 73% sugar content. The main sugars in its composition are fructose and glucose, which have almost equal proportions, and in terms of sugar composition, it is similar to beehive honey and high fructose corn syrup. Considering the cost of production and raw materials, date liquid sugar can have a good place in competition with its similar products such as beehive honey and corn syrup. Considering the advantages of sugar and date juice, these two can be used as sugar substitutes for sucrose in the preparation of various foods, especially bakery products.

One of the problems in replacing sugar is the adverse effect of taste, physical characteristics of the product and the level of consumer acceptance of the new combination. Due to its high sugar content and pleasant taste, dates can be a suitable substitute for sugar in food formulations.

The benefits of Date Liquid Sugar are as follows:

1. In equal amounts, it is sweeter than sucrose. Therefore, it is economically more affordable.

2. At equal concentration, it is a better preservative than sucrose.

3. Due to its regenerative nature, it has less tendency to crystallize or sugar.

4. Retains moisture better.

5. Improves color and taste.

6. Improves texture.