10 Natural Substitutes For Salt And Sugar

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• 10 Natural Substitutes For Salt And Sugar
• Its no news that artificial salt and sugar have
  a detrimental effect on your health. Studies have
  shown that consuming too much salt leads to
  increased blood pressure, and a few reports also
  point towards cognitive decline as a
  side-effect. On the other hand, a high sugar
  intake increases risks of a heart disease,
  obesity and diabetes. Thus, it is advised that
  you consume the two in a minimal amount or not
  at all to stay in good health.
• However, the question beckons, is it possible to
  exclude salt and sugar from your food without
  compromising on the taste? Well yes, we list out
  ten alternatives which not only act as perfect
  substitutes, but are also easily found in your
  kitchen.
• Ginger The peppery undertones of the spice can
  easily elevate the flavor of any dish. Use it as
  a paste to marinate or grate it and stir into
  curries, ginger will never disappoint.
• Vinegar There is more to vinegar than being used
  as a salad dressing. Its naturally salty taste
  makes it an excellent alternative to salt. Use
  it to make a moist homemade chocolate cake or add
  that punch to your soups, the choices are
  aplenty.
• Garlic With garlic in the dish, there is no room
  for missing salt. Sauté it for that nutty flavour
  in your stir fry veggies. You can also chop some
  cloves up and add them to take curries and stews
  to the next level.
• Onions They are an Indian household staple. From
  humble lentils to restaurant-worthy pizzas,
  onions are perfect to add that crunch (if raw)
  or an umami flavor to your dishes (caramelised).
• Curry Powder Instead of opting for store-bought
  curry powders, which have preservatives for
  longer shelf life, grind whole spices together
  to make a fine curry powder. Store it in a jar
  and add to any preparation for that tanginess.
• Fruits Some fruits like apples, pineapples,
  figs, dates, and bananas have a natural sugar
  content which is not harmful for you. You could
  make individual purees out of these fruits and
  add it in place of sugar. For example, if a
  recipe calls for one cup sugar, you can replace
  it with half a cup of fruit puree. Similarly,
  freshly squeezed juice or even a smoothie can do
  without added sugar.
• Cinnamon Instead of cream and sugar, add a dash
  of cinnamon to your coffee, porridge, cocoa or
  oatmeal. It works perfectly well in baked
  desserts and breads, especially if you are
  diabetic and want to try an alternative to
  refined sweeteners.
• Jaggery Perhaps the most popular and healthiest
  substitute to sugar, jaggery can be added to just
  about any dish or drink which requires
  additional sugar. Grate or cut it to add to your
  beverages, or add it to the batter when you are
  baking, you can even dissolve it in water to make
  a sweet syrup which can then be used as a
  topping with waffles and ice-creams.

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1. Nutmeg Like cinnamon power, grated nutmeg can be
   added to coffee, cocoa and oatmeal as an
   alternative to sugar. A teaspoon of nutmeg can
   also spice up your carrot or beetroot juice and
   give baked products that much-needed zing.
2. Honey This is a good alternative to sugar, but
   the quantity used in the dish needs to be
   limited. The presence of fructose can result in
   a few health issues. We suggest consulting your
   doctor before deciding on the amount to consume
   every day.