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Date Syrup: The Sugar Alternative Is So Healthy

Date syrup is touted as a healthy alternative to industrial sugar. In this article we explain the advantages and disadvantages of the sugar alternative and also look at the environmental balance. We will also show you how to make your own date paste.

Date syrup – healthy sugar alternative?

A piece of cake here, a scoop of ice cream there – sugar makes life sweeter for us. We actually know that too much sugar is unhealthy, but it is usually not easy to do without it. That’s why alternatives to processed sugar are increasingly coming into focus in order to calm your conscience a bit when the sweet tooth comes over you again. One of these sugar alternatives is date syrup.

  • The industrial sugar sucrose is a double sugar consisting of the simple sugars glucose and fructose. Industrial sugar therefore only contains sugar and contains neither vitamins nor minerals.
  • Date syrup, on the other hand, contains vitamins and minerals in addition to sugars . Among other things, the vitamins C, B3, B5, B9 (folic acid) and ß-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, are included. The minerals sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are also represented, as is the trace element iron.
  • Dietary fiber is also present in the sugar alternative, which has a positive effect on digestion.
  • In addition, date syrup contains antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols, which protect the body from oxidation processes and thus have anti-inflammatory or antibacterial functions, among other things.
  • Another advantage of date syrup compared to industrial sugar is the lower calorie content, due to the lower sugar content per 100 grams. Household sugar consists of 100 percent sugar and has an impressive 400 calories per 100 grams. Date syrup, on the other hand, is significantly lower with around 290 calories and 67 grams of sugar per 100 grams (date syrup, Gut Bio, Aldi).
  • If you’re looking to reduce your sugar intake and eat healthier, date syrup is a step in the right direction. In the future, simply sweeten your tea or muesli with the sugar alternative.

Date syrup: disadvantages

Date syrup is a healthier alternative to industrial sugar in terms of ingredients and calories. But there are also disadvantages.

  • Like industrial sugar, date syrup contains fructose. Thus, the sugar alternative is not suitable for people with fructose intolerance.
  • The valuable ingredients are one thing, the price another. Date syrup is significantly more expensive than table sugar, so you’ll have to dig deeper into your wallet.
  • In contrast to sugar beet, which is used as a raw material for the production of household sugar, dates do not grow in Germany. They are imported from countries as far away as Egypt or Saudi Arabia and travel long distances before they end up on your plate. In addition, an effective irrigation system is required in dry cultivation countries. Overall, dates should therefore not be consumed in large quantities in relation to the environmental balance.

Make your own date paste

Date syrup is relatively expensive at retail. It is much cheaper to make your own date paste. All you need is dates and water.

  • Pit 300 grams of dates, place the dates in a bowl and pour hot water over them. Add enough water to just cover the dates.
  • Let the dates soak for 1-2 hours. Then put the dates in a blender together with the water . Mix it all together until you get a homogeneous mass.
  • Then your date paste is ready. Pour the paste into a jar and seal. The date paste will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks, but you can also freeze it.
  • You can use your date paste to sweeten and refine many dishes. You can enjoy the paste as a spread, for example, sweeten smoothies or use it in salad dressings.
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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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