Quit the sugar, try Yacon Syrup

Everyone's heard how bad sugar is for you. But few choose to do anything about it. And perhaps you just don't realize how much sugar you are actually being exposed to each day.

We're not just talking about adding sugar to your coffee, drinking soda or eating your favorite brownies. They are obvious sources of sugar. But what about duck sauce, tomato sauce for pasta, fruit juices, peanut butter? So it's not just snacks that are the problem but sugar is creeping its way into most of our meals too!

If you've made this delicious meal using a jar of sauce, it's probably got about as much sugar in as a bowl of cereal

This is just a short list but you get the idea. If you buy any of the above products from the supermarket you've probably never even considered that it might be loaded with sugar.  Next time you're shopping check the ingredients. Often those yummy jars of sauces - you know the ones I mean, barbecue, teriyaki, etc etc -to cook your chicken have sugar as the second or third ingredient! Unless you look for the 100% pure fruit juice it is likely you're buying one with sugar added as the second ingredient also. 

Many of these items have sugar-free alternatives. Check carefully to find a peanut butter that is natural without added sugar. Find a 100% freshly squeezed fruit juice. Buy pure tomato paste and use that to create your own tomato sauce.

Ready-made sauces in a jar are rarely without sugar, in which case why not try making your own? There are plenty of natural sweeteners available that you can use instead of sugar to make your own homemade sauce, that don't carry the dangerous side effects of refined sugar, such as maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar and yacon syrup. Oh, and did we mention that homemade sauce tastes so much better than sauce from a jar?

Let's talk about yacon syrup today. Yacon syrup comes from the yacon plant and has a very similar texture to molasses. It is described as having a caramel flavor. Not only does it taste good but it actually has properties that can help you lose weight. Yacon syrup is loaded with prebiotics, in this case something called fructooligosaccharide, and this substance cannot be broken down by the body and so it remains unmetabolized, therefore providing us with fewer calories. New research is showing that yacon syrup can actually supercharge the metabolism, helping suppress the appetite to encourage weight loss.

Nature's Design 100% Pure Yacon Syrup

Here are a couple of recipes to help you get started.

Barbecue Chicken made with Yacon Syrup

• 1 c ketchup (preferably homemade!!! See below!)
• 1/2 c yacon syrup
• 1/4 c vinegar
• 2 tbl Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tbl Dijon mustard 
• 1 tbl garlic powder
• 1 tbl onion powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Combine ingredients and pour over chicken thighs or legs. Cover, and cook in oven for 90 minutes and then uncover for 10 minutes to brown.

Homemade Ketchup

·        7oz tomato paste (make sure it's 100% tomato with nothing else added)

·        1/2 cup water

·         2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 

·        2 tbsp honey OR yacon syrup

·        1/2 tsp sea salt 

·        1/4 tsp onion granules

·        1/8 tsp all spice

·        1/8 tsp ground cloves

Mix all the ingredients together EXCEPT for the water. Once combined, slowly add the water to your desired consistency. Store in refrigerator.