This robs honey of the natural sweetener’s incredible nutritional value and healing powers. Unfortunately, most honey today is pasteurized, meaning it is heated and filtered. Raw honey is pure, unfiltered, and unpasteurized. Honey also contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which may reduce inflammation.Įach tablespoon of honey contains 17 grams of sugar, so use it sparingly, especially if you are diabetic. Honey has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol.

It’s a good source of vitamins and minerals including B vitamins, calcium, copper and various amino acids, making it a better alternative to artificial sweeteners or refined sugar. Honey is an antioxidant-rich, whole-food, and autoimmune-friendly natural sweetener you can use in place of regular sugar. You could also sprinkle date sugar on foods or even add it to smoothies for a little extra sweetness! 4. With date sugar, you get all the benefits of whole dates, including fiber, tannins, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals.ĭate sugar does not dissolve in liquids, so this natural sweetener works best in baked goods. It comes from finely ground, dried dates. Date Sugarĭate sugar is one of the best all-natural, AIP diet alternatives to sugar. It’s an excellent replacement for brown sugar in baked goods. It’s an all-natural sweetener that can be included in a diet for those with autoimmune disease in small amounts. So coconut sugar helps feed your friendly gut bacteria and stabilize blood sugar.Ĭoconut sugar is a raw food because it comes from dehydrated coconut sap. The all natural sweetener also contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber. Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener that is lower on the glycemic index than regular sugar. These keep your body’s fluid levels in balance and are important for a number of other functions as well. Coconut SugarĬoconut sugar can be a good source of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes including potassium, magnesium, and sodium. However, it does have a strong taste and might be too strong for other recipes. You can use blackstrap molasses as an all natural sweetener in many baked goods - it’s what gives gingerbread its characteristic flavor. On the third boil, it became the dark, thick, blackstrap molasses you’re familiar with. We boiled this several times to make molasses. You’ll be surprised to find out that as a Peace Corps volunteer, I was making molasses with my Paraguayan family!Īfter cutting the sugar cane down with a machete, we removed the outer leaves and ran the stalk through a hand-cranked press to extract the juice. By increasing their intake to just 200 mcg, patients were able to decrease their antibodies by 64%!

Selenium has also been shown to decrease thyroid antibodies in Hashimoto’s patients. Selenium is one of four essential nutrients for patients with Hashimoto’s or other thyroid dysfunction, needed to convert inactive T4 thyroid hormones to their active T3 state. Blackstrap molasses provides iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and selenium. Blackstrap MolassesĪlthough blackstrap molasses is made from cane sugar, it is much more nutrient-dense than cane syrup or even regular molasses.

Some natural sweeteners even contain micronutrients that can add value to your diet. Amy Myers June 24th, 2018 The Best Natural Sweeteners for an Autoimmune Diet – Infographic – Amy Myers MD® 7 Natural Sweeteners for An Autoimmune Dietįortunately, there are plenty of natural sweeteners to satisfy your sweet tooth without contributing to inflammation. The Best Natural Sweeteners for an Autoimmune Diet – Infographic – Amy Myers MD® Dr. Now, let’s take a look at some of the best natural sweeteners for an autoimmune-friendly diet. Or make every day an AIP Snack or treat day with my delicious paleo protein. You can check out my cookbook, The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook, for recipes that incorporate all natural sweeteners to help you make The Myers Way® a way of life. Even the natural sweeteners listed below have GMO counterparts you need to avoid whether or not you have an autoimmune condition. I want to set you up for success by helping you to make smart choices about including sweets in your AIP diet, including choosing only organic, non-GMO, all natural sweeteners. However, if you’ve completed the protocol, have worked your way down the autoimmune spectrum, and are living symptom-free, you might be ready to enjoy the occasional, naturally sweetened indulgence! This is particularly important if you’re addressing gut infections such as SI B O and Candida overgrowth because the bacteria and yeast feed off of carbohydrates and refined sugars. While following the first 30 days of The Myers Way® Autoimmune Solution Program, I recommend avoiding all sugars, including natural sweeteners. As you know, the first pillar of The Myers Way® is to remove the toxic and inflammatory foods such as sugar, alcohol, and processed foods that can damage your gut.

Aip vanilla extract substitute