What does the term "natural" mean? As it applies to sweeteners it can mean many things. Become sugar selective! The following sweeteners will provide lots of steady energy because they take a long time to digest. These natural choices such as maple syrup and honey offer rich and distinct flavors, vitamins and minerals, without the ups and downs of refined sugars.

This balanced syrup, high in maltose and complex carbohydrates, is absorbed slowly and steadily by your bloodstream. Brown rice syrup is a natural for baked goods and hot drinks; it adds subtle sweetness and a rich, butterscotch-like flavor. The magic ingredients are enzymes. "Malted" syrups use whole sprouted barley to create a balanced sweetener. Devansoy is the brand name for powdered brown rice sweetener, containing the same complex carbohydrates as brown rice syrup, as well as a natural plant flavoring.

This sweetener is made much like brown rice syrup, but uses sprouted barley to turn grain starches into a complex sweetener that is slowly digested.

Stevia is a sweet South American herb used for centuries by many cultures and extensive scientific studies back-up ancient claims for its safety. Advocates consider stevia to be one of the healthiest sweeteners as well as a tonic for healing skin when applied to wounds. Stevia is 150 to 400 times sweeter than white sugar, has no calories and can actually regulate blood sugar levels. Look for stevia in powered and liquid extract form. Unrefined stevia has a molasses-like flavor and refined stevia has less flavor and nutrients.

This brand name sweetener combines the sweetness of grape juice concentrate with the complex carbohydrates of brown rice syrup. It is a light amber color and 80% as sweet as white sugar and comes in granulated and liquid form.

Fruit purees, dried fruit and cooked fruit sauces or butter provide excellent sweeteners since all have less water, thus concentrating flavor and natural sugar content. You'll also find fiber and naturally balanced nutrients in whole fruits like dates, figs, apples, bananas, and apricots.

It takes one bee an entire lifetime to produce a single tablespoon of honey from flower nectar. Honey is mostly made of glucose and fructose and is up to twice as sweet as white sugar; honey enters the bloodstream rapidly. A benefit of eating raw honey produced in your geographical region is that it may reduce hay fever and allergy symptoms by building your natural immunity. Note: raw honey can lead to a toxic, even fatal, form of botulism in children under one year of age.

This is sugar cane in unrefined form. It is brown and granulated containing 85% to 96.5% sucrose and retains all of sugar cane's vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.