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Why the Sweetener You Choose Matters

written by

Erin D

posted on

January 6, 2025

At Love Less Sugar, our commitment to health goes beyond simply reducing sweetness; it's about choosing ingredients that nourish your body while enhancing flavor naturally. Understanding the impact of sweeteners on your overall health is essential. Here's why the sweeteners we use (and avoid) matter for your well-being.

Refined Sugar and High-Fructose Corn Syrup: The Hidden Dangers

Refined sugar, particularly common white sugar, is highly processed, stripped of nutrients, and linked to numerous health issues. During refining, sugar loses vitamins and minerals, resulting in empty calories that can spike blood sugar, increase inflammation, and disrupt gut health. Research has linked overconsumption of refined sugar to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and impaired immune function.

The introduction of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the mid-20th century significantly increased sugar consumption, becoming a common additive in processed foods due to its lower cost and higher sweetness. 

Today, refined sugar and HFCS are added to nearly everything at the grocery store, from obvious items like candy and desserts to unexpected products such as bread, sauces, and salad dressings. 

The term "added sugar" refers to sugars or sweeteners (mainly refined sugar & HFCS) introduced into foods during processing rather than those naturally occurring in whole foods. 

For example, a single serving of flavored yogurt might contain up to 15 grams of added sugar (nearly four teaspoons.) Depending on what you eat daily, that intake of sugar can add up quickly. The average American consumes approximately 60 pounds of refined sugar and nearly 40 pounds of HFCS each year, significantly contributing to chronic diseases and metabolic disorders increasingly diagnosed across the population.

Why Organic Agave and Organic Coconut Sugar?

At Love Less Sugar, we've thoughtfully selected organic agave and organic coconut sugar as our primary sweeteners:

  • Organic Agave: Agave nectar is a natural sweetener derived from the sap of the agave plant, known for its mild flavor and smooth consistency. Lower on the glycemic index compared to refined sugar, agave nectar provides a more stable blood sugar response, reducing insulin spikes. Its sweeter taste (approximately 1.4 times sweeter than sugar) means we use significantly less, naturally cutting down your overall sugar intake and reducing calories. The agave we use is USDA certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, allergen-free, and vegan. Additionally, we source our organic agave from suppliers certified by the Clean Label Project, an independent organization dedicated to transparency and purity in food labeling. This certification ensures our agave is rigorously tested for harmful contaminants, toxins and additives, providing the highest level of safety and quality for your family.
  • Organic Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener made from the sap of coconut palm flower buds, known for its rich, caramel-like flavor and nutritional benefits. Unlike refined sugars, coconut sugar retains trace minerals like potassium, magnesium, zinc and contains 16 vital amino acids, essential building blocks for life. It has a lower glycemic impact, making it a more balanced sweetener option, contributing positively to metabolic health and sustained energy levels without the typical sugar "crash." Our coconut sugar is sourced and hand-harvested from the world’s largest supplier committed to regenerative farming practices, which help restore soil health, support biodiversity, and reduce environmental impact. Regenerative farming actively rebuilds topsoil, enhances soil nutrients, sequesters carbon, and increases resilience to climate change, resulting in healthier ecosystems and more nutrient-rich products for you. Our coconut sugar is also certified USDA organic, Non-GMO, gluten-free, unrefined, and vegan.

Sweetening to Taste, Not Excess

Typical recipes rely heavily on sugar, often adding 6-8 cups of refined sugar per batch. At Love Less Sugar, our philosophy is about enhancing natural flavors. We carefully sweeten each recipe to taste (typically only 1-3 cups) ensuring delightful, balanced sweetness without overwhelming your palate or your body.

The Pitfalls of Sugar Alcohols & Refined-Process Sweeteners: Why We Avoid Them

Sugar alcohols like erythritol, allulose, and sweeteners derived from stevia have gained popularity as low- or zero-calorie alternatives. However, recent research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued caution due to their processing methods and less understood long-term effects:

  • Erythritol: A recent study linked erythritol consumption to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and potential cognitive impairment. Researchers found that high blood levels of erythritol, were linked to roughly double the risk of heart attack or stroke.
  • Allulose and Stevia: These sweeteners often involve complex processing methods such as enzymatic conversion, fermentation, and catalytic hydrogenation. While currently considered safe, more research is needed on potential risks associated with catalytic processes and long-term health impacts. 

Until more data emerges, we choose to avoid these sweeteners, prioritizing ingredients that align with our values.

Sweetening with Your Health in Mind

Sugar is still sugar, but we believe in balance. Everyone deserves something sweet in life without deprivation. Our commitment at Love Less Sugar is clear: we select sweeteners aligned with health-conscious principles, emphasizing minimal processing, nutritional value, and metabolic stability. Our products are designed for everyone, not just those managing specific health conditions. Whether you have diabetes or simply want healthier, non-mass-produced options from a trusted source, our thoughtfully sweetened products are crafted to support your overall wellness.

At Love Less Sugar, your wellness and deliciousness always go hand in hand.

FAQs About Sweeteners

Why don’t you use refined sugar?

  • Refined sugar overpowers fruit flavor and spikes blood sugar. We use organic agave and coconut sugar for a gentler sweetness that lets the fruit shine.

Is agave healthier than cane sugar?

  • Agave has a lower glycemic index than refined sugar, meaning it doesn’t cause the same sharp spikes in blood sugar.

What about coconut sugar?

  • Coconut sugar contains trace minerals and has a lower glycemic index than refined sugar. We use it sparingly in baked goods where it adds a warm, caramel-like depth.

Do your jams contain coconut sugar?

  • No. Our jams are sweetened only with organic agave to let the fruit flavor shine.

Do your baked goods use agave or coconut sugar?

  • It depends on the recipe. Some bakes use organic agave, others use coconut sugar, and a few use a mix of both — always less sugar overall.

Taste the difference of better sweeteners.

Shop our Jams and Baked Goods, crafted with organic agave and coconut sugar instead of refined cane sugar.

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