Granulated Sugar
Regular sugar is relatively high on the glycemic index (60 to 65 out of 100)—so it’s metabolized faster, causing a bigger sugar high and crash.
Brown Sugar
Molasses is what makes brown sugar brown. Use light brown sugar in baking, condiments, and glazes; use dark brown for baked beans.
Brown Rice Syrup
Not as sweet as sugar, this syrup has butterscotch and nutty notes— as well as one of the highest glycemic index numbers at 98.
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Coconut Sugar
This sugar has no coconut flavor. At 54 on the glycemic index, it’s metabolized more slowly than other sugars, tempering that sugar high.
Corn Syrup
Made from corn, this sweetener isn’t the same as high-fructose corn syrup. HFCS contains fructose and is sweeter than corn syrup but is no worse for you, nutritionally, than other sugars.
Maple Syrup
With a glycemic index number of 54, maple syrup is rising in popularity. Though it boasts disease-fighting antioxidants (darker grades deliver more than lighter ones), it’s still sugar.
Honey
One study showed that this yellow- to amber-colored sweetener has about the same antioxidant capacity as maple syrup, though it’s much higher on the glycemic index.
