How to make your love of sugar a little bit healthier, according to a doctor

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On In The Know’s “Wellness Lab,” we bust common health myths and learn about the best products for keeping your health in tip top shape with our host, Dr. Alok Patel.

There’s nothing wrong with having a sweet tooth, but eating too much sugar can lead to adverse health impacts, including heart disease and a long list of chronic diseases.

“Our love affair with added sugar is out of control,” Dr. Alok Patel tells In The Know. “But here’s the thing: Our bodies need sugar to live. Your best bet is to go with natural sugar.”

He explains that the goal is to be a smarter consumer when it comes to sugar content, not to cut out sugars entirely. Now, you may see some products that list “healthy alternatives” to sugar on their labels, but of course, there’s no such thing as a healthy sugar that you can eat as much of it as you want without any negative effects. We can only dream!

“So you want to do your best to pick responsible foods and try to avoid added sugar whenever you can,” Dr. Alok says.

Check out some of his favorite natural sugar sources below and on this episode of “Wellness Lab” above.

Shop: Sugar In The Raw, $3.24

Credit: Amazon

Sugar in the Raw is an unprocessed version of sugar, so it’s a little bit grittier than refined sugars and has a more golden color. But, it still tastes like the sugar you know and love. You can use it in your coffee or in a recipe. (But again, everything in moderation.)

Shop: Beekeeper’s Naturals Wildflower Honey, $15.99

Credit: Amazon

A top-quality honey is going to be unprocessed and won’t contain any fillers — just au naturel honey. Beekeeper’s Naturals makes this wildflower honey and according to Dr. Alok, after one taste, you’ll finally know what honey is supposed to taste like.

Shop: Pyure Organic Stevia Sweetener Packets, 40-Count, $5.29

Credit: Amazon

You’ve probably seen baked goods or snacks in grocery stores labeled that they’re sweetened with Stevia. “Stevia is a plant-based sweetener that’s zero calorie,” Dr. Alok says. He recommends trying Pyure’s organic stevia for all-purpose use. But, if you’ve never tried it, Stevia is actually sweeter than regular sugar, so you’ll often need a lot less of it. Even though it’s zero calories, you should still eat it in moderation.

If you like to addd sugar to your coffee, check out this recipe for whipped coffee — it’s so easy.

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