SweetSmarts – Sugar Free Recipes Made Easy

You, Or Someone You Love, Needs A Sugar-Free Diet

Now the pressure is on you for healthy, sugar free recipes.

That’s how it was for both me and my mum. We both shared the responsibility of making sure I wasn’t sick from sugar…

…yet the responsibility seemed heavier than just “making sugar free food”.

Shopping becomes brain-heavy, and eating out in groups always makes you feel awkward (asking the waitress what’s “in” every meal). You even have to special-order certain foods online!

Heck, I remember not even being able to eat a bagel because there was too much sugar in it. Preposterous!

It’s not just about sugar free cooking/baking anymore. Not in our sugar-laden culture; it’s a lifestyle change. And it’s often a worrisome lifestyle change when someone’s health is at risk!

Well worry no more! My name is Andrew Muller, and I’m going to show you how to bake, cook, and shop. Worry-free, sugar free recipes.

What Does SweetSmarts Have To Offer You?

Well of course, there’s the obvious…

…RECIPES! Oodles and oodles of recipes! But on top of that, I also have:

I also have The Sugar Free Cakebook, which has 40 incredible cake recipes for Kindle, Tablet, or other digital formats.

Who Is SweetSmarts For?

If you, or one of your loved ones is:

  • diabetic
  • sugar intolerant
  • trying to increase the length and quality of your life by keeping a healthy body

Then this site could be a really great resource for you.

If you have very specific, dangerous health issues (such as Diabetes), I recommend you look into each of the sweeteners below.

Just because these recipes might be a good option for you, doesn’t mean you should throw all logic out the window; pay attention to what you are eating, and check your blood sugar levels if you’re diabetic.

This website is not meant to contain authoritative medical advice, but rather, helpful speculation on what might (or might not) be a good fit for your diet.

4 Smart Sweeteners That Every Pantry Needs

The main criteria for sweeteners on this site is that they have a Glycemic Index of >55 (less than 55). I’d prefer that they have a much lower GI than that, 0 being the best!

Stevia: Easily the most natural and best-for-you sweetener around. I only use the Herbal Advantage brand of Stevia, as it is the least bitter sweetener around.

Stevia is 300x sweeter than sugar too! Unfortunately, because it is not the same density as sugar (it also can be a little bit bitter) it is only useful in certain baking projects.

I often combine Stevia with another natural sugar substitute in my recipes.

Glycemic Index: 0

Erythritol: A sugar alcohol that is derived from corn and other fruits/vegetables. It is the natural alternative that is the “most like sugar”.

The main disadvantage though is that it often has a cooling effect (kind of like Dentyne Ice gum) that can make it difficult to work with.

The biggest advantage to Erythritol is that it caramelizes! Which is such a big deal! No other natural sweetener that is commercially available today can Caramelize.

Glycemic Index: 0

Coconut sugar is a great alternative to brown sugar. It ranks at about 35 on the glycemic index, which is safe for diabetics.

It really is one of the easier sweeteners to use in your recipes. It reacts to baking veeeeerry similar to brown sugar, and it’s more nutritious too!

As with every sweetener, make sure to do your own research if you have any important medical issues. Some people still doubt how “healthy” coconut sugar is, though I haven’t had any problems with it.

Glycemic Index: 35 (slightly higher than Agave)

Agave Nectar: I only recommend the Volcanic Nectar brand of Agave Nectar, as they are the only brand I know of that doesn’t dilute their Agave with unnatural byproducts, and they use Agave plants grown only in the fertile volcanic sands of Guadalajara.

Although there is some controversy around the amount of Fructose in Agave Nectar, the Volcanic Nectar stays true through testing every time.

Glycemic Index: 27 (higher if you use a different brand than Volcanic Nectar).

You can find more information about sugar substitutes here.

11 Benefits Of Sugar Free Living

  1. Lower chance of headaches
  2. Less fatigue – more energy
  3. Clearer and more focused mental clarity.
  4. Dramatically less sugar cravings (after a few months of going sugar-free).
  5. Improved immune system for better disease resistance and recovery.
  6. Better digestion (contributes to your immune system too).
  7. Lower risk of diabetes.
  8. Less mood swings, more steady emotional state.
  9. Less tooth cavities – lower dental bills.
  10. Lowered appetite.
  11. Less acne. Clearer, healthier skin.
 

The Models Of Sugar Free

Now there are a few different types of sugar free out there. Some people’s bodies, from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Diabetes, or other reasons, need to avoid:

  1. Unnatural Processed sugars (but can still have natural sugars and artificial sugar substitutes such as Splenda)
  2. Unnatural Processed sugars + Natural sugars (but can still have artificial sugar substitutes)
  3. Unnatural Processed sugars + Natural sugars + Artificial sugar substitutes (avoid all 3)
  4. Unnatural Processed sugars + Artificial sugar substitutes (but can still have natural sugars).

I know that looks a little complex, but I’m sure you get the gist of it: there are different styles of sugar free!

At SweetSmarts, I will be making recipes that have NO Unnatural Processed Sugars, NO Artificial Sugar Substitutes, but will still contain Natural Sugars that come from the earth.

I am completely against artificial sweeteners such as Splenda or Aspartame. I have personally found that these sweeteners have given me some very terrible experiences; I will never recommend them on this site.