Think you can’t sweeten up your smoothies without sugar? Think again! We listed the top 6 natural sugar alternatives that you can use to whip up a yummy drink.
Love slurping a protein smoothie with the Warrior Strong Wellness Multi Collagen Protein Powder or a thirst-quenching fruit shake filled with in-season fruits during a hot day? We love it too! Not only do they freshen up the body, but they also provide you with a superb mix of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals. The only problem is some people put too much sugar to sweeten up their favorite smoothies.
Does this sound like you? Well, don’t worry, we all have our fair share of using too much artificial sweetener in our food and drinks. The good news is that you can switch to healthier and better natural sugar alternatives.
If you’re not familiar with these or if you want to try them, but you’re not sure how they work, then our quick list of natural alternatives to sugar below might come in extra handy for you.
#1. Bananas
Bananas have natural sugars (fructose), making them an ideal choice when whipping up hearty and filling smoothies. It also adds a creamy texture to your go-to summer drinks, especially when mixed with other ingredients like Multi Collagen Protein Powder, almond milk, and Greek yogurt.
Besides providing you with enough sugary goodness, bananas also contain fiber and potassium, which are quite helpful in improving your digestion and cardiovascular health.
#2. Dates
Did you know that a single piece of Medjool dates contains about 16 grams of natural and healthy sugar? That’s more than enough to sweeten up a full glass of smoothie! The best part about this natural sweetener is that it contains energy-boosting ingredients, which can help you keep fatigue at bay.
They also contain phytonutrients or plant compounds that provide benefits like:
- Decreased body inflammation
- Enhanced immune system
- Increased protection from DNA damage
- Reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
#3. Stevia
If you’re an avid reader of health and lifestyle blogs, then you must have encountered Stevia before. Essentially, it’s an herb from South America that people use as a healthier alternative to sugar. It’s calorie-free and carb-free, plus it’s 100 percent natural, making it an excellent choice for many health-conscious individuals.
You can use it in its natural form or find Stevia leaf extract or powder in your favorite supermarket. To make smoothies with Stevia as your sweetener, we recommend using dried leaves. You will need to pulverize it before adding it to your drinks or tossing them into your food processor, with your chosen ingredients like fruits and Multi Collagen Protein Powder.
#4. Raw Honey
Honey is perhaps the most classic source of natural sugar. It contains plenty of health-boosting ingredients like phytonutrients and antioxidants. Pure honey also offers several health benefits like fighting off inflammation and infection and decreasing your risk for cancer or cardiovascular diseases.
Ideally, when shopping for honey, you should go for raw or unprocessed ones. These are widely available in the supermarket and whole food stores. Be extra careful when you buy honey, so you avoid those that contain unnecessary additives like corn syrup or flavoring.
Alternatively, if you don’t trust the brands you see in your shops, you can try finding local beehive keepers who offer unprocessed honey straight from their farms. You might also find pure honey from the farmer’s market.
#5. Maple Syrup
If you love adding some caramel undertones to your smoothies, then the maple syrup makes a fine choice as your natural alternative to sugar. Maple syrup has been one of the most popular sweeteners used in the country because of its relatively low Glycemic Index (GI), a factor that many health buffs look at when choosing products to eat.
To make sure that you maximize the benefits of maple syrup, we highly recommend reading through the product labels. Check if the product contains ingredients like fructose or corn syrup. Ideally, you should only pick one that says 100 percent maple syrup. Otherwise, you’re just swapping your old sweeteners with another unhealthy choice.
#6. Molasses
Molasses are also among the top choices of people who want natural sugar alternatives for their smoothies. It’s that dark liquid that remains after creating sugar crystals from sugar cane juice. And because it’s not refined like the regular table sugar you buy from the groceries, it contains high amounts of nutrients and minerals such as:
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Selenium
- Calcium
Your Favorite Smoothie Made Healthier with Multi Collagen Protein Powder
Indeed, you can use so many healthier options to sweeten your favorite fruit or protein smoothies. Instead of automatically reaching for table sugar, you can try switching things up with molasses, honey, maple syrup, Stevia leaves, bananas, or Medjool dates.
Besides the excellent health benefits that each natural sweetener offers, each comes with different flavor profiles. This means that you can add a unique taste to your usual smoothie recipes, making it all the more exciting to experiment with new ingredients!
For example, instead of just opting for a regular banana, strawberry, and yogurt smoothie, you can try adding a scoop of Multi Collagen Protein Powder to give that extra health boost. It’s a great option, especially if you want to enjoy collagen powder benefits like:
- Improved skin and hair condition
- Stronger bones, joints, and ligaments
- Healthier and stronger nails
- Better digestive functions
- Increased protection from various diseases
Hydrolyzed collagen powder doesn’t have a distinct taste, so it easily blends with the flavor of your chosen sweetener, fruits, and dairy. It also mixes quickly, so you get that smooth texture of a delectable and refreshing smoothie.
Want to upgrade your healthy smoothies? Shop for the best Multi Collagen Protein Powder at Warrior Strong Wellness today!
About The Author
Warrior Strong Wellness
Warrior Strong Wellness provides innovative and high quality transformational supplements and raises awareness and funds to fight childhood cancer by giving a portion of our proceeds to childhood cancer research. In our weekly blogs, we share wisdom about wellness and living a Warrior Strong lifestyle.