Yacon Syrup – A Healthy Sugar Alternative

Yacon syrup is derived from the root of the yacon plant. This member of the sunflower family is found in South America, and Peruvian people use the root chopped in sweet dishes. The syrup has a distinctive flavor, not unlike molasses or caramel.

What makes yacon a healthier alternative to sugar is its low glycemic nature and the fact that it is a whole food, easily accommodated by individuals wishing to eat a more natural diet. It is free of glucose, and 30% of its sugars are fructooligosaccharides, or FOS. FOS are not absorbed by the body, so they pass through the digestive system without getting metabolized. Because of this, yacon syrup has half the calories of another common liquid sweetener, honey, and can be used by diabetics.

* Potential health benefits

Colon health
FOS are prebiotics – that is, they set the stage for healthy intestinal flora to flourish. Thus, yacon’s cleansing effect on the colon will not create an imbalance of “good” bacteria.

Weight loss
An abstract recently published in a European nutrition journal suggests that yacon may aid in weight loss. When taken daily, it apparently creates a feeling of fullness and may actually decrease body fat, subsequently promoting loss of weight.

Cholesterol and blood pressure
Yacon may also lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels. And preliminary studies suggest that yacon may act as a blood thinner, decreasing the chance of clot formation and lowering blood pressure.

Safe for diabetics and those on an anti-candida diet
Diabetics often have a hard time finding a whole food, natural sweetener; but yacon is safe for people with diabetes due to it being so low on the glycemic index. Individuals on an anti-candida diet – that is, a sugar-free diet to eradicate systemic yeast overgrowth – are able to partake of yacon without exacerbating their problem.

* How to use yacon syrup

Yacon makes a good substitute for honey, maple syrup, or molasses in recipes. It can also be eaten over fruit or plain yogurt. To make a brown sugar substitute, mix 1 cup of Xylitol (a sugar substitute derived from birch trees) with 2 tablespoons of yacon syrup; shake until the mixture is uniformly brown.

* Acceptable for vegans

Vegans often avoid white sugar and honey due to the involvement of animals or animal products in the manufacture of these sweeteners. But yacon syrup’s source is the yacon plant only, and no animals or animal products are involved in the harvest or manufacture of it.

This relative newcomer to the sweetener scene offers a lot of potential, not only as a substitute for sugar but as a health food in its own right.

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Winter Wreaths Ideas

Have you ever seen a beautiful Christmas wreath, only to be turned away by the price? Here’s the good news: you can make a very attractive wreath using natural materials that cost absolutely nothing. The late autumn landscape is filled with fascinating textures and hues. Take advantage of nature’s bounty by gathering the materials yourself and fashioning them into a wreath. Here are some suggestions for making beautiful holiday wreaths for yourself, friends, family, and so forth.

1. Pinecones

-Small pinecones, such as hemlock
Are you familiar with those little round pinecones that seem to be everywhere in the fall? Gather a small bag of these and use a hot glue gun to attach them to a large ring cut from cardboard (use those holiday shipping boxes) or a styrofoam hoop.
-Large pinecones, such as white pine
These can be glued to a circular backing as well, once again using a hot glue gun. Obviously, you won’t need as many, but large pinecones tend not to fit together as snugly as the little ones do. Fill in the gaps with small pinecones, acorns, berries, or even leaves.

2. Yard trimmings

-Ivy
This rambling vine can become troublesome, so using a bunch for wreaths could be a help to the property owner. Twist and weave ivy vines into a ring around a base ring made from cardboard, styrofoam, or wire. You can also use a home-made twig wreath (below) as a base.

-Juniper, Yew, Boxwood or other garden shrubs
Late fall is an excellent time to prune shrubs, as it promotes vigorous spring growth with minimal stress to the plant (they are partially dormant by that time). These trimmings can be used alone or in combination to produce a stunning wreath. Gather the trimmed pieces into bunches and secure them with wire, then mount the bunches to a backing using wire or a hot glue gun. If you are using a twig wreath as your base, you can weave and tuck the shrub trimmings in amongst the twigs without wire. It’s a good idea to wear gloves, especially if you are working with juniper.

3. Twigs

A twig wreath is lovely in itself and also makes a good base for other wreath materials. Grapevines and other vines can be used to make these simple wreaths, but make sure you do not use vines that are hairy or growing tightly to tree trunks – these could be poison ivy and even in winter they can cause a rash, blisters, and itching. Long, flexible twigs make the best material. Gather them into a bunch and lightly twist and bend them, adding more twigs are you go until it makes a circle and you can tuck and weave the ends together.

4. Nuts, Berries, and miscellaneous tree fall-out

Acorns, rose hips, holly berries, maple keys, sycamore pods, and teasels are just some of the decorative items that nature provides. If you have enough of them, they can be glued to a cardboard or styrofoam base to make a wreath on their own. Or you can use them to add texture and color to an existing wreath.

Making your own wreath is an affordable and fun way to celebrate the holidays. They make pretty, meaningful gifts or they can be made in miniature and attached to gift packages. The whole family can get involved and create not only a lovely product, but memories as well.

Yacon Syrup (1 Gallon)

Where to buy: www.sunfood.com

Yacon syrup is a sugar substitute and is native to the Andean region of South America. The Yacon plant is related to the sunflower and has edible leaves. The syrup is freshly pressed from the Yacon root, which contains high quantities of antioxidants and potassium.

The benefits of Yacon syrup include:
* Non-glycemic
* Low-calorie
* Natural and raw
* Pesticide-free
* Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and strengthens bones
* High in antioxidants
* Cholesterol reducing
* Improves the absorption of vitamins, especially Vitamin B
* Regulates the digestive system
* Improves friendly intestinal flora growth
* Reduces symptoms of blood sugar disorders (type 2 diabetes, hypoglycaemia etc)
* Vegan
* And others

Yacon syrup can be substituted for any other sugar in any recipe, in your muffins, coffee or swirled around in your breakfast oatmeal.

For more information on this product and its health properties, go to www.sunfood.com.

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