Natural Alternatives to Sweeten Your Food and Your Life

With all of the health problems that arise from sugar and sugar alternatives, it is no wonder that many people are taking to natural sweeteners in their food. Using natural sweeteners such as honey, figs, apple juice and others helps to avoid chemicals that may be used in sugar and sugar alternatives. A list is provided below of some natural alternatives to use in replacement of a sugar product.

* Honey is one of the widest used natural sweeteners. Honey is made by bees and is sweeter than sugar, so reduce the amount of honey used in any recipes as a sugar substitute. Honey can be used in beverages, food and as a topping.

* Figs, in addition to being natural laxatives, are also great for sweetening foods. Figs are better cooked rather than raw.

* Concentrated apple juice is a great sweetener and can replace sugar in baking recipes and cooking. To replace sugar with concentrated apple juice, use ? cup for every cup of white sugar. Also reduce any liquid in a recipe, such as water, by 3 tablespoons as concentrated apple juice is liquid in form. Other concentrated juices can be used as well; just keep in mind that different flavors will affect the taste in your recipes.

* Molasses is a natural sweetener; however, it is not as sweet as sugar. When replacing sugar with molasses, use 1 1/3 cup of molasses per cup of granulated sugar. Molasses will impart strong flavor and dark color into your recipe.

* Maple syrup contains sucrose and glucose. Maple syrup is made from the sap of maple trees and is widely used as a sugar substitute. While it may not be as sweet as sugar, use only ? cup of maple syrup per cup of granulated sugar specified. As with concentrated apple juice, the maple syrup will liquefy the final product so be sure to decrease any liquids in the recipe by 3 tablespoons.

There are several natural sweeteners on the market that can be used in place of sugar and sugar substitutes. Feel free to experiment with different alternatives in recipes until you come up with a solution that works for you. When using a sugar alternative, be sure to account for any allergies such as allergies to honey.

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Light Pollution ? An Explanation

When you think of pollution, the humble light bulb probably doesn’t come to mind. Instead, you might envisage smoke stacks belching clouds of smoke, or a sky heavy with smog. Keep those smoke stacks in mind, though – they do have something to do with light pollution.

Humankind’s electrical illumination of the earth can be seen from outer space. While the effect is stunning and beautiful, there is a growing movement toward lessening artificial lighting. Called “light pollution,” the excessive use of electrical lighting is said to have a significant environmental impact. Here are some reasons why some people are concerned about light pollution.

Fossil Fuels

Electricity from “the grid” is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, usually coal. The heat from the burning fuel is used to heat water. As the water heats, it produces steam, and the steam is channeled into a generator. The force of the steam turns a turbine in the generator, making – or generating – electricity.

Remember those smoke stacks? At large electric plants, the smoke from the burning coal is sent up and out via smoke stacks. This sends large quantities of carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions (greenhouse gases) into the atmosphere.

While technology is improving in this regard – progressive electric companies are installing filters in their smoke stacks to reduce the harmful elements of the emissions – there are other issues with burning large quantities of fossil fuels. For one thing, fossil fuels cannot last forever. Another issue is the danger posed to coal miners who harvest the coal. Yet another concern is the damage done to the environment as a result of some forms of mining.

Wildlife

Animals can not distinguish between natural and artificial lights. Wildlife that uses the moon as a navigational beacon can get confused, often with fatal consequences. Anyone who has watched a moth flit around a light bulb has seen this effect in action. Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to this kind of lunar confusion.

Not-So-Starry Skies

When large numbers of lights are directed upward and/or outward, an effect known as “sky glow” occurs. Have you ever tried to view a meteor shower or constellations near a city or even a small town? You can’t – the sky emits a continual glow that obscures your view of the stars and other celestial bodies. To get a good view, you have to travel to a remote area where the sky is genuinely dark.

This continual glow may have effects on human and animal biorhythms. Studies on animals, particularly reptiles, show that the pineal gland responds to the regular rhythm of light and dark. If this rhythm is disrupted, reproductive capabilities are compromised.

Interestingly, while it has not been studied extensively in people, human sensitivity to night lighting may also have an effect on fertility. According to an observational study over more than 25 years, women who had trouble with infertility found that their fertility improved upon eliminating all light sources from their bedroom at night, including digital clock faces.

The regular rhythm between light and dark, day and night, is ingrained in the bodies of earth’s inhabitants. Changing a rhythm that fundamental must have some sort of effect.

Simple Steps to Eat More Ethically

Are you concerned about the farming methods and other processes that go into producing and growing food? More and more people are with you – there is a growing desire to know where our food comes from and to be more connected with it. Concerns about potentially unethical farming practices have prompted many people to become better shoppers and eat more ethically. Here are some steps you can take to make your table a more ethical one.

1. Find out where your food comes from. Make phone calls, do a search online, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If a store is not transparent and forthright regarding its food’s origins, find somewhere else to shop. Local, smaller stores are probably less likely to give you the runaround, especially because the store’s owner is often readily available. Ask for the name and contact information of the store’s food supply sources. That way, you can research and contact the source directly rather than just taking the store’s word for it.

2. Organic food is produced without the use of synthetic, toxic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, making it a healthier and more environmentally-friendly choice. Because of the lack of poisons, organic food should be at the top of your ethical shopping list.

3. Free-range meats and dairy products are also worth looking into if you don’t morally object to eating animals and their products, but only object to cruel treatment in conventional stockyards, slaughterhouses, and dairy farms. Contact the company that sells the free-range meat or dairy products you want, and visit the site if possible. Make sure their practices are up to your personal ethical code. Free-range, organic meats are less likely to harbor dangerous bacteria, too, since their animals are not kept in overcrowded conditions.

4. Fish are healthy foods consumed even by some vegetarians. However, it pays to look into the source of your fish – is it farmed or wild-caught? Have dyes been added (particularly a problem with salmon)? Is the species of fish endangered? Are other species, such as dolphins, harmed in the fishing process? These are important questions to ask as you probe into the sources of your fish. Farmed fish may be more susceptible to bacterial contamination, since they are grown in crowded, contained ponds or containers rather than in open waters.

5. Grow or hunt your own food, or hook up with someone who does. Hunting is considered by many to be the ultimate source of free-range meat – certainly no questionable practices went into the raising of the animal, and a good hunter can be far more humane than conventional slaughterhouse techniques. Like the commercial farms, check into your hunter friend’s practices and see that they are ethical and humane. As for fish, the art and sport of fishing can be an enjoyable way to put healthy food on the table.

6. Growing your own vegetables and/or trading goods or services with a neighbor who has a garden are viable ways to stay connected with your food and know its source. Look into orchards and produce farms that have a “pick your own” option, too.

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