6 Best Sweeteners To Use For A Healthy Vegan Diet Plan

[kstewlover9]

What do you think of xylitol??

[lalo1989cm]

I've never seen green stevia. Where do they sell that?

[thugricanz]

I think dates sugar is the healthiest sweetener. ^^;;

[thugricanz]

Thanks! I've been buying the white powder stevia.. I didn't know until a while ago from a friend. But since you recommend the green one over white..then I will go ahead and order the green powder one.

[RoverRollOver1234]

Oh drat! I didn't know about agave... well, I will be sure we limit its use. I love maple syrup (the real stuff). :) I'd be interested if you'd cover some fat-free baking, because my hubby is trying to follow Dr MacDougall's heart diet. I also like to leave my fruit out in a basket to ripen. When it's really sweet naturally, there's no need for sweetener. :)

[mlee7]

Hello Healthy Vegan Heather, have you heard of coconut sugar (made from the coconut flower buds)? I'd like to hear your opinion on it! Also, what about Alicia Silverstone's recommendation of brown rice syrup? Is that necessarily healthy? Thank you

With love,

Vegan Matt from Markham :)

[healthyvegan]

@mlee7 brown rice syrup is great, coconut sugar seems fine to me as long as it's unrefined. Neither one is 'healthy', so should be kept minimal, but are good sweeteners to use when you want something sweet :)

[lyndaraven]

wHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON RAW HONEY?

[XtinaCUMSLindaPerry]

Whats your opinion on Coconut syrup and sugar Heather? Also do u think someone can be allergic to Stevia.. I had some sweet leaf (brand) stevia and i feel like it causes me headaches.. Do u think the green stevia would do this as well?

[healthyvegan]

@XtinaCUMSLindaPerry if a sugar isn't refined (coconut included) it should be ok. I'm not sure on the stevia, but if it gives you headaches I'd stay away :) try getting a tea that has some green stevia leaf in it and see if it works for you, so that you aren't stuck with a whole box of stevia :)

[sinzlicht]

What about honey?? You never mentioned honey.

[healthyvegan]

@sinzlicht I mentioned it in response to another comment - I didn't mention honey in the video because it's not vegan :) if you do eat it, I'd put it in the same category as pure maple syrup - ok in moderation, it's a partially refined sugar (processed by the bees).

[holistichabits]

Great video. I've currently been using coconut sugar and banana sugar. I try to do completely sugar free (other than fruit of course) but lately I've been experimenting. Stevia will always be the love of my life though haha

[tiredapplestar]

I often add dates to sweeten up homemade nut milks ( just blend it with the nuts) and cereals. You may even catch me popping a few dates if i get a candy craving. YUM! I just love them so much!

[sweetdurian29]

Im surprised you haven't mentioned xylitol :O any thoughts on that?

[foodpuppie]

I had read that no-cal sweeteners can have an increased risk of Type II diabetes because there are sweet receptors in your gut that prepare your system to metabolize sugars, and when you constantly fool it it's creating too much insulin. So I agree it's better to be moderate, and smart, about the actual sweeteners you use. Also wondering what you thought of the idea of licorice root tea? It's super sweet, apparently good for your gut when boiled a long time, and doesn't taste like licorice.

[healthyvegan]

@foodpuppie licorice root tea is amazing for a lot of reasons - it helps stimulate the digestive system, and many other good things :) interesting point on the no-cal sweeteners, I hadn't heard that before

[mayapplesx]

i love your videos! can you talk about peanut butter and jam? thank you!

[bmxion]

Thank you for all the information!

[FletcherHabit]

I have ahead injury from a car accident and since then I experience sweetness when I taste sour so for me apple cider vinegar actually tastes sweet!

[SurJones]

@healthyvegan you seem to have a healthy sweet tooth. I do as well!!!!! Can you please do some awesome videos on some sweets..no bakes cookies, etc. Today I found myself at about 3pm wanting something sweet. (because you are talking about sweeteners I think it's only fitting :) )

[SurJones]

Thanks! I peep it out!

[XXvictoriellahXX]

@healthyvegan honey is vegan, in my opinion. My dad is a beekeeper, so I know what kind of things go on at a bee farm. bees don't make honey because they're being forced to, and they aren't being hurt. I mean, What good would it do my dad, the beekeeper, if he was hurting or killing all the bees that his regular income depends on. They aren't being hurt in the process. That's just my opinion, I suppose. :)

[fdoeppen]

@XXvictoriellahXX I have family members that are bee keepers back in Brazil. I always wonder why vegans don't eat honey... It just seems natural to me :)

[jodienicholsonAU]

@XXvictoriellahXX You could have the happiest, most cared-for cow on the planet, who loves being milked...but milk from it would still not be vegan. Honey is not vegan.

[northernSars]

NO! when I say the blurp about my beloved agave being the same as hfcs I disregarded it immediately. Agave is my honey, my love! Pre vegan I would just eat a spoonful of honey, after I found agave I would do the same thing. hfcs is something you will NOT find in my house, I am so sad but it is really expensive so I guess it will have to be cut... this is a true blow to my sweets life! We use tons of molasses and always have brown rice syrup at home

but my fav is still organic cane sugar!

[anionaesca]

where do you get your b12 from?

[allyluvable]

Hi, I hate to bother you but i'n newly a vegetarian (2 months) and finding myself lost. I'm in college so I'm always on the run and never have time to set aside real time to cook anything that takes time. Also I'm a southern girl who has only been taught how to make things using animal fats and fried things. I find myself only eating the pre-made veggie things packed with sodium, which can't be good for you and I run track so i'm becoming underweight as I am 5'9 and only 120 lb, should i quit?

[allyluvable]

Hi, I hate to bother you but i'n newly a vegetarian (2 months) and finding myself lost. I'm in college so I'm always on the run and never have time to set aside real time to cook anything that takes time. Also I'm a southern girl who has only been taught how to make things using animal fats and fried things. I find myself only eating the pre-made veggie things packed with sodium, which can't be good for you and I run track so i'm becoming underweight as I am 5'9 and only 120 lb, should i quit?

[allyluvable]

Hi, I hate to bother you but i'n newly a vegetarian (2 months) and finding myself lost. I'm in college so I'm always on the run and never have time to set aside real time to cook anything that takes time. Also I'm a southern girl who has only been taught how to make things using animal fats and fried things. I find myself only eating the pre-made veggie things packed with sodium, which can't be good for you and I run track so i'm becoming underweight as I am 5'9 and only 120 lb, should i quit?

[healthyvegan]

@allyluvable don't quit! you just have to figure out how to make a healthy diet work for you. head over to healthy eating starts here dot com slash success for tips :)

[BooGooNFlowoo4Evoo]

@allyluvable Learn about Indian food. India has been successfully vegetarian for over 2,000 years. The majority of Indians are lacto-vegetarians, but you can find quite a few vegan recipes in Indian cuisine too. Also look up what Catholics eat during Lent. Lots of easy to do recipes there too. :) I met my boyfriend because he was curious about the spinach sandwiches I was making in the dorm kitchen.

[BooGooNFlowoo4Evoo]

@allyluvable Learn about Indian food. India has been successfully vegetarian for over 2,000 years. The majority of Indians are lacto-vegetarians, but you can find quite a few vegan recipes in Indian cuisine too. Also look up what Catholics eat during Lent. Lots of easy to do recipes there too. :) I met my boyfriend because he was curious about the spinach sandwiches I was making in the dorm kitchen.

[veganheart1]

It's funny you mention that about agave, because I had just read an article the other day that said it was not a good sweetener to use because it was heavily processed, I didn't know this. Luckily, I have a small thing of agave that is about halfway gone or so and I have maple syrup. :) I like the taste of maple syrup better anyway, it's so much richer, just much, much nicer. :) I think from now on I may stay away from agave after I finish what I currently have.

[WithChildLikeFaith]

Thank you for covering Agave Nectar. I came across some spectacular information by RD Jack Norris at that leaves no stone unturned about this subject. He relates High Fructose Corn syrup to Agave and shows how the two are not that different. Highly recommend the article as I believe you will thoroughly enjoy it.

[healthyvegan]

@WithChildLikeFaith Jack Norris is fantastic, I've read just about everything on his site, thanks for mentioning it :)

[mzxmir]

Can you talk about HONEY. Thanks for the tips! I hate having sugar spikes (from white sugar) and really only heard about white/brown sugar, honey, agave, and rock candy. Out of all of them, I prefer rock candy. I heard that it's still as bad as white sugar and I do notice it if I get sugar happy. == Also, can you talk about YOGURT? I just tried Fage and love it. I know it's not vegan, so any alternatives? Thanks! (I'm not vegan, but always try my best to find good foods!)

[healthyvegan]

@mzxmir didn't mention honey because it's not vegan - I'd put it in the same category health-wise as maple syrup. It's processed (by the bees), but not as much as white sugar, so it's ok just keep it in moderation and consider the impact to bees

[mzxmir]

Can you talk about HONEY. Thanks for the tips! I hate having sugar spikes (from white sugar) and really only heard about white/brown sugar, honey, agave, and rock candy. Out of all of them, I prefer rock candy. I heard that it's still as bad as white sugar and I do notice it if I get sugar happy. == Also, can you talk about YOGURT? I just tried Fage and love it. I know it's not vegan, so any alternatives? Thanks! (I'm not vegan, but always try my best to find good foods!)

[ginduf]

i usually don't use any sweeteners but there's a chinese fruit called lo han kuo that has been used as a sweetener that has all kinds of health benefits. i usually get the tea form for when i have upper respiratory illnesses (it's a lung tonic) but i have been known to dissolve it in chocolate cookie recipes in stead of sugar (it's got a flavor that chocolate can mask -- it's not bad)

[ginduf]

i usually don't use any sweeteners but there's a chinese fruit called lo han kuo that has been used as a sweetener that has all kinds of health benefits. i usually get the tea form for when i have upper respiratory illnesses (it's a lung tonic) but i have been known to dissolve it in chocolate cookie recipes in stead of sugar (it's got a flavor that chocolate can mask -- it's not bad)

[fdoeppen]

Question: To rinse or not to rinse the rice?

I rinse my rice before cooking it (white/brown), for the sake of cleaning it, but I hear different opinions about it. I'm curious to know what do you guys do?

[fdoeppen]

Sorry vegans friends, but I do use honey every once in a while... mostly I  use the unrefined sugar.

[fdoeppen]

I just finished my bottle of Agave and will NOT be buying again!

[RosElisabeth]

I am someone w/ a sweet tooth. I love using applesauce in brownies:D Two in one- replaces the egg and sweetens.

Great information about the unrefined sugar. I'm going to be hunting some down on my next trip to the store.

I didn't know about Agave. I have two bottles in my cabinet:(

[ILoveValenciaOranges]

I use dates - whole or blended with water to make 'date syrup', stevia and other fruits dried/fresh and sometimes mesquite powder.

[MrNumberFour]

If I try to sweeten anything with fruit i just end up with a bowl of fruit lol but I love stevia and maple syrup :D

[healthyvegan]

@MrNumberFour hahaha... same, I'm totally happy with just the fruit :)

[dtoussaint80]

Wow, totally opened by eyes to sugars -- Great Vid

[MommaPiano]

I love using dates and raisins in everything that I can. I also use brown rice syrup in things like granola and some cookies. I would love to use maple syrup more but it's so expensive so I don't buy it that often.  I have been using agave some as well but I guess I won't be anymore!!

[Meabo15]

Love the expression on your face when you say "those aren't maple syrup." :P

[veganheart1]

@Meabo15 Teehee me too, it made me giggle ahahaha

[SurJones]

CRUD - I just bought a bear of Agave to replace the white sugar we've been using!! bummer :)

[SurJones]

Hey there! Where do I find that un-refined sugar? Haven't seen it around our local places.

[healthyvegan]

@SurJones the brand Wholesome Sweeteners makes sucanat - if you can't find it in stores, I'm sure you can order through amazon :)

[boobootoob]

Great video, as usual.

[Curliegirl71]

Thank you for sharing this as I have been trying to eat healthier :-) !

[balaftuna]

Great info! Had no idea that all browns are refined + molasses.

Thank you