A short and snappy how-to for making THM Brown Sugar. What is THM Brown Sugar? A sugar-free substitute just right for all your baking needs.
Throw all the ingredients into a jar and stir with a fork until it resembles brown sugar. Too easy.
I love to use a little of this on warm porridge in winter or in yummy banana muffins all year round.
Enjoy!
- 1 cup xyltiol or erythritol
- 1/2 tsp black strp molasses
- 2-3 drops maple flavour (optional)
- 1-2 doonks pure stevia extract
- Place all ingredients in a suitable jar and stir with a fork.
What exactly are xylitol and erythritol?
Both are sugar alcohols with almost no or low calories, they do not causing a spike in blood sugar and do not cause tooth decay.
They do have a few disadvantages, though. Xylitol and erythritol can cause side effects such as diarrhoea, headache, and stomachache in some people when consumed in large doses. The most common advice is to introduce these sugar alcohols slowly into your diet.
Where do they come from?
Erythritol can be found in fruits such as pears, watermelons and grapes; it is also present in some drinks like sake and wine, and soy sauce.
Xylitol is found in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables and we even produce small amounts of it as part of normal metabolism.
They are both a common ingredient in sugar-free chewing gums, mints, diabetes-friendly foods and oral care products.
One of the best things I love about using xylitol is its reported ability to starve the harmful bacteria in the mouth, reducing plaque buildup and tooth decay. Helping in the prevention of dental caries and inflammatory gum diseases.
We have been using a toothpaste with Xylitol for the past 2 years and have had great success with reduction of decay and the removal of bad breath. As the mouth, nose and ears are all interconnected, it comes as no surprise that the bacteria that live in the mouth can end up causing bad breath and ear infections. Xylitol can starve some of these bacteria, in the same way as it starves the plaque-producing bacteria.
Other benefits have been reported too. It increases the absorption of calcium in the digestive system, which is great news for your teeth and may also protect against osteoporosis.
While I was pregnant with baby number 8, I received 6 months of IVIG to help keep him alive. One of the side effects was the decline in the health of my teeth. My dentist said to go away and try to remineralise my teeth. I had read xylitol could do this and I am happy to report that the decay seems to be arrested still, 3 years later.
You can order both xylitol and toothpaste in the aussie mamas shop.
Just a friendly warning:
Like chocolate, xylitol may be safe for humans but isn’t safe for dogs. Dogs may experience a severe drop in blood sugar, vomiting, lethargy and seizures after eating just a small amount. My kids always eat their xylitol sweetened food inside, away from our pet pooch. Having said that, we have been daily consuming xylitol for the past 2 years and both our dogs have been kept safe.
