No Added Sugar vs Sugar Free: The Ultimate Guide
What are healthy alternatives to sugar? Which sugar substitute is best?
Stevia
Stevia is extracted from the leaves of the Stevia Rebaudiana plant and is known for being naturally sweet. These days it is manufactured into either a tablet or powder sweetener.
The leaves contain compounds that are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, gram for gram. Meaning less of it is needed for the same sweet taste and has virtually no calories.
Stevia has wonderful effects on blood pressure with evidence showing that stevia can lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. However, it has no effect on blood pressure that is normal or only mildly elevated. Those reasons make stevia a healthy alternative to sugar.
If you need to sweeten something, stevia may be your healthiest choice. Initially, stevia may require a bit of getting used to because it has a slight aftertaste. That’s why at MiiRO we developed our own blend that is not only delicious but also filled with the full health benefits of Stevia.
Erythritol
Erythritol is a sweet powder that can be sourced from fruits, corn, or even organisms like lichens and algae.
They are considered as healthy alternatives to sugar as they are a carbohydrate that does not contribute to calorie intake. These ghost carbohydrates do not break down in the body and therefore do not contribute to your daily carbohydrate intake. The results make for a great low-calorie sweetener.
Powdered erythritol sweeteners bake in a way almost identical to sugar. Use it to make home-baked goodies that are sugar-free and guilt-free!
For all those reasons we believe stevia and erythritol are the best sugar substitute.
Alternative sugars for better health
Keeping in mind that we need to balance our intake of sugars is easier when we stay away from heavily processed foods. Sugar will never work in full harmony with our bodies, but natural sugar alternatives are slightly less harmful than regular old table sugar and contain way more nutrients.
Honey
Honey is a thick, golden liquid produced by bees.
It contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals, as well as an abundance of beneficial antioxidants.
The phenolic acids in honey are responsible for its antioxidant activity, which can help prevent diabetes, inflammation, heart disease, and cancer.
Many studies throughout the years have attempted to establish clear links between honey and weight loss, decreased glucose levels, and reduced hyperglycemia.
While honey has promising health benefits, it contains fructose, which can cause health problems if excessively consumed. So, while honey is not completely harmless, it is a great alternative to sugar when drinking tea or used to glaze your breakfast granola.
Is honey vegan?
Veganism exempts the consumption of all foods made of or derived from animals. Honey is an animal product and therefore not vegan.
At MiiRO, we don’t like using honey as a sweetener because of the unethical practices and environmental effects. Instead, we use sweeteners which we will go into more detail about in the second part of this article!
Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a flowing, amber liquid that’s made by cooking down the sap found in maple trees.
It contains minerals, including calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and manganese. It even contains more antioxidants than honey.
Despite some beneficial nutrients and antioxidants, maple syrup is still very high in sugar. It has a slightly lower glycemic index than regular sugar, so it may not raise blood sugar levels as quickly. Yet, it will still raise them. Consume maple syrup in moderation, saving it for a drizzle on breakfast pancakes.
We love maple syrup, but for us, a sugar-free maple syrup was something we just couldn’t live without. That’s why we created our very own sugar free maple syrup with a unique blend of sweeteners to replicate your favorite tabletop staple without the sugar concern.
Sugars in fruits
Fruits are a great source of the natural sugar fructose, but some contain more volumes than others.
Whole fruits are abundant in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals our body needs to function and be healthy. But remember that fructose is the sugar that when consumed in excess causes weight gain. Although fruits are a great sugar boost and better for our bodies than sucrose, too many of them can have an adverse effect and cause health issues.
Coconut sugar
Coconut sugar is extracted from the sap of the coconut palm and tastes similar to table sugar but with a slight caramel flavor.
Is coconut sugar better for you than regular sugar? It’s a slightly healthier alternative to brown sugar because it contains antioxidants and nutrients, including iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. It also has a high inulin content. Inulin is a soluble fiber that has been shown to slow digestion, increase fullness, and feed the healthy bacteria in your gut.
However, coconut sugar still contains a lot of sugar and is very high in calories, containing the same number of calories per serving as regular sugar so be sure to use it sparingly. That’s why we consider it as a slightly healthier alternative to brown sugar you can add to drinks or desserts for an extra nutrient boost.