Feel free to disagree with me here, but it seems that every year another sweetener hits the shelves and is promoted as a healthy alternative to sugar.
Equal
Splenda
Agave
Stevia
Erythritol
Over the past few years, one of the “natural” sweetener darlings promoted by many (including Dr. Oz) has been agave. It is said that the Aztecs used agave nectar with salt to heal wounds, so it is often referred to as some kind of health food.
In my coaching practice, I'm often asked about alternatives to sugar for baking and for sweetening up coffee, tea, and other beverages. Some people want to know about the sugar substitutes ...
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Are Almonds Paleo?
The Quick Answer
Yes. Almonds are paleo.
Why Are Almonds Paleo?
Almonds are high in vital minerals and vitamins like riboflavin, magnesium, copper, vitamin E and manganese. They're also one of the few foods that are alkaline. Alkaline foods are important because hyperacidicity can increase your risk of immune dysfunction, insulin imbalance, biochemical abnormalities, and osteoporosis. Most biological processes and dietary choices promote acidity, so almonds can play an important role by keeping your pH levels neutral.
Research suggests that almonds improve memory function and delay the onset of dementia, Alzheimer’s ...
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Is Stevia Paleo?
The Quick Answer
Yes. Stevia is paleo.
Why Is Stevia Paleo?
Stevia, a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia rebaudiana plant, is paleo (in its natural, unprocessed form) because it’s a food found in nature that has been eaten by people throughout history. High quality stevia is thought to have some trace nutritional benefits. It is certainly far less harmful than regular cane sugar and other processed sweeteners.
To date, no studies have shown any downside to consuming stevia. Some research even shows that it can help to balance blood sugar levels and regulate insulin.
We know that humans have always ...
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Is Honey Paleo?
The Quick Answer
Yes. Honey is paleo.
Why Is Honey Paleo?
Honey (in its natural, raw, unprocessed form) is paleo because it’s a natural food that has been eaten by people throughout history. It is created by bees and formed in honeycombs. It also offers some nutritional benefits.
The kind of honey that is available in most supermarkets today is overly processed and devoid of nutrients because it has been processed at high temperatures, but if you purchase good quality, raw honey that has been produced by a local bee farmer, you will be consuming a product with some pretty impressive health benefits. Getting honey from ...
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Are Dates Paleo?
The Quick Answer
Yes. Dates are paleo.
Why Are Dates Paleo?
Dates are paleo because they occur in nature and don’t require any processing or even cooking. Dates are a fruit and fruit is paleo. Fruit provides the body with important vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and fiber.
Dates can be found fresh but they are more readily available in their dried form. Either way, they contain high amounts of fiber and good amounts of potassium and vitamin B6.
Eating dates (and all fruit) is a great way to naturally appease your sweet tooth. A whole, fresh piece of fruit is always better than ice cream or candy.
Dates can ...
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Is Maple Syrup Paleo?
The Quick Answer
Yes. Maple syrup is paleo.
Why Is Maple Syrup Paleo?
Maple syrup (in its most natural, unprocessed form) is paleo because it’s a natural food that has been eaten by people throughout history. It is a great alternative to white sugar and can even contain trace amounts of some beneficial nutrients.
Good quality, 100% pure maple syrup is a substance formed on trees. You can see it forming around tree bark and probably think of it as the tree’s “sap”. People have been eating natural sweeteners like maple syrup since Paleolithic times (although probably not in the quantities that we consume it today because of ...
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Is Coconut Sugar/ Coconut Nectar Paleo?
Is coconut sugar paleo? Is coconut nectar paloe?
The Quick Answer
Yes. Coconut sugar/coconut nectar is paleo.
Why Is Coconut Sugar Paleo/ Why Is Coconut Nectar Paleo?
Coconut sugar (or coconut nectar) is paleo because it’s a sweetener found in nature and is produced from the sap of the coconut palm tree. It is a rich source of potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and vitamin B. The coconut sap from which coconut sugar is derived contains sixteen amino acids, which help build muscle and boost the immune system.
Coconut sugar or nectar is lower on the glycemic index than regular white cane sugar, meaning that it has less of ...
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Is Agave Paleo?
Is Agave Paleo?
The Quick Answer
No, agave syrup/nectar is not paleo.
Why Isn’t Agave Paleo?
Agave is not paleo ( this includes both the syrup & nectar) is because it’s a processed food. To make agave nectar, you have to use a lot of modern cooking tools. It also has few nutrients to offer and contains a high amount of sugar, which is harmful when consumed in large enough amounts.
Agave nectar or agave syrup is made from the agave plant, but it needs to be heated and chemically altered in order to become the sweet, thin, syrup that is bottled and sold in stores. Neither the extreme temperatures nor the added ...
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Is Cane Sugar/ Brown Sugar Paleo?
The Quick Answer
No, Cane sugar/ brown sugar is not paleo.
Why Aren’t/Are Different Types of Sugar Paleo?
The main reasons that cane sugar/brown sugar is not paleo are:
Cane sugar/brown sugar has an extremely high score on the glycemic index. Consuming it wreaks havoc on your blood sugar levels and can lead to insulin resistance and other conditions.
Cane sugar/brown sugar does not contain any nutrients at all and is associated with serious diseases such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, and obesity.
Although the sugar cane or sugar beet plants that are used to make sugar are found in nature, they must ...
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Are Legumes Paleo?
The Quick Answer
No, legumes are not paleo.
Why Are Legumes Not Paleo?
A lot of people are aware that bread and other refined carbs are hazardous for the body due to the high content of simple carbs and poor nutritional value they provide, so they don’t struggle to see the logic behind giving them up.
However, things get harder when it comes to eliminating legumes.
What Are Legumes?
Peanuts, lentils, beans, and peas are all legumes. Some commonly known legumes are soybeans, split peas, small white beans, red beans, pinto beans, field peas, chickpeas, cashews, Boston beans, black beans, Mexican black and red beans, lima beans, mung beans, ...
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