September 21, 2010

Ask An Expert – Sweet Stuff

QUESTION:

I’ve heard a lot of buzz about the “natural sweeteners” Agave & Stevia. What is the difference between them and how can I use them for cooking purposes?
~ Sweets

ANSWER:

So you’re making an effort to go green! You’ve replaced your light bulbs, your cleaning products, and your plastic bags…why not go natural on the inside, too? Replacing white sugar with natural sweeteners is a fabulous first step, so kudos to you! I totally understand being overwhelmed with all the choices out there. Here’s the breakdown:

Agave nectar comes from the agave plant, a large succulent indigenous to Mexico. Tequila also comes from the agave plant! (And I highly recommend sweetening your margaritas (or any drink) with agave!) It has a more delicate sweetness and flavour, so it is great for cooking and sweetening beverages because it will not change the flavour. I like to use it over oatmeal, on pancakes, in hot tea or coffee, yogurt, salad dressings, or even to add a little sweetness to roasted vegetables. This is not a low-calorie food, however, there are about 60 calories per tablespoon of agave nectar, so use it sparingly.

Stevia is a perennial shrub native to Paraguay. Steriosides are the refined extracts from the leaves of the stevia plant from which the sweetener is made. Stevia comes in many forms – the leaves themselves, powder and liquid. It is about 300 times sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a long way. Some people do not enjoy stevia because of the slight aftertaste, which I’ve heard described as bitter, grassy, and slightly licorice. Stevia is not a great substitute for sugar in baking (try sucanat for that, a non-refined cane sugar), but is great for sweetening drinks (try a couple drops of the liquid form for this, as it dissolves slowly), a smoothie, or over cereal.

 

SUZANNE SELMO – Nutrition Expert

Suzanne Selmo is a certified yoga teacher, food writer, and fabulous cook! As a true believer in ’green eating’, she focuses on healthy, local ingredients for the most delicious and earth-friendly dishes. For more from Suzanne — from recipes to yoga to essays on healthy eating, go to www.hautehealth.blogspot.com

If you have any questions about Nutrition, Recipes or Fitness, email our trusted LB experts at expert@lifestyleboost.ca.

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