Manage Blood Sugar With Two Sweeteners

By far, the best sweeteners—especially if you’re trying to manage blood sugar—are the natural ones.

Topping the list is stevia. This herb has been used for over 1,500 years in South America and continues to boast worldwide popularity. It is calorie-free and does not affect blood sugar levels, so it is ideal for people living with diabetes. Just a few drops of a liquid concentrate or a dusting of powdered stevia is all you need to lend sweetness to any drink or dish. It’s the sweetener of choice at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, and not just for patients who are dealing with diabetes. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should.

Running a close second is xylitol. This sweetener looks and tastes like sugar, making it ideal for baking. Better yet, it’s good for your teeth: Xylitol actually reduces cavity and plaque formation, a dental claim approved by the FDA. Although xylitol is not calorie-free, it is metabolized much more slowly than regular sugar and is extremely low on the glycemic index. The only reported side effect is gastrointestinal distress when large amounts are ingested.