In most coffee shops, cafes and restaurants you’ll find sweeteners available as the ‘healthier’ option to add to your tea or coffee. In health food shops agave nectar is recommended because it is natural. So, it must be better for you, yes? Well… What is the real truth about these sugar substitutes?

The worst and most common sugar substitutes out there are: No. 1: Aspartame You’ll find aspartame in nearly all diet drinks and low calorie food. It has been proven that it really is not good for our bodies as it is known to cause headaches and fatigue. And that’s not all. One of the breakdown products of aspartame is formaldehyde, a carcinogen known to cause cancer.

No. 2: Agave syrup This is supposedly a ‘healthy’ sweetener which is stocked in most health food shops. Don’t worry if you’ve been fooled. You’re not alone.

Agave actually contains up to 90 per cent fructose, which is even higher in sugar than corn syrup. This fructose will go directly to your liver. Your liver won’t understand that it’s not sugar and so it will still give you that insulin ‘spike’ which puts you at risk of increasing body fat, especially around the mid-section – increasing risk of heart disease and diabetes.

No. 3: Splenda Splenda is processed using chlorine which is incredibly harmful to your body as well as having a negative impact on the entire food chain. Here again, your body won’t recognise that it’s not sugar and so your hormone insulin will still ‘spike’ – causing your body fat to increase.

So, what do you need to look for instead?

If you love to bake, and there are plenty of healthy recipes out there, check out Paleo.

Sometimes the sweetness you get from fruit just isn’t enough, so here are my recommendations of what you could use… but in moderation:

* Stevia This is naturally sweet and actually comes from the stevia plant, so it’s one of the best and safest natural sweeteners. The liquid version is better and ideal for adding to tea or coffee, or adding sweetness to desserts.

* Raw Honey Honey has many health benefits. Not only is it natural, it has plenty of anti-oxidants and it is a simple and easy ingredient for baking.

* Black Molasses This is the least known natural sweetener. You’ll find it in health food stores. It has a high concentration of nutrients and is naturally rich in iron, calcium and potassium.

Black molasses is a by-product of the process that turns sugar cane into white, refined table sugar. It is not suitable for diabetics but, for everyone else, their bodies will metabolise it better than sugar.

The natural sugar we get from fruit and veg is always better for us and I hope this article has enlightened you about sugar and the so-called sweeteners. If you have a sweet tooth then follow the above information, check your food labels and remember, cooking from scratch is the way forward for a leaner, healthier lifestyle.

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