The Sweetener Book

Book excerpt: You want to make the right choice for you and your family... But which sweetener is really the best? In reality, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The right answer depends on a number of factors, because each sweetener has its pros and cons. Which sweeteners have a low glycemic index? Which ones can upset your digestive system? Which one can aggravate high blood pressure? Which ones work best for baking? This book gives you the science-based information you need to make the sweetener choice that's best for you and your family. This book tells you the advantages and disadvantages of sucrose, brown sugar, turbinado, molasses, fructose, glucose, lactose, isomaltulose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), honey, agave nectar, sorbitol, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, xylitol, inulin, fructooligosaccharides, tagatos, erythritol, glycerol, acesulfame, aspartame, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, cyclamate, alitame, stevia (stevioside and rebaudioside), luo han guo (mogrosides), glycyrrhizin, thaumatin, brazzein, monellin, mabinlin, curculin, and miraculin. It tells you about the taste quality, calories, glycemic index, stability, and safety of each of these sweeteners.