The processing of regular white sugar is a complex and toxic procedure, involving chemical solutions, bleach and filtering with things like bone charcoal ("bone char" is the reason that some sugars are not considered vegan). If your diet consists mostly of processed convenience foodsor if you eat out a lotyou're probably taking in a lot more sugar than you realize. That's why when you do prepare your own meals and desserts, you'll want to find ways to use healthier sweeteners.

The best way to sweeten is always with whole foods like dates, figs, raisins and even prunes, but there are other options as well, some you may have heard of and others that might be new to you. If you're looking for a new recipe in order to try out a healthier sweetener, check out raw food recipe sites such as www.goneraw.com. Meanwhile, below are some alternatives to cane sugar for you to consider:

Agave nectar (syrup) A low-glycemic sweetener with a neutral taste. Comes in light, amber and dark varieties. Also available (though harder to find) in a powdered form.

Coconut sugar Made from the nectar that drips from coconut palm sugar blossoms, coconut sugar can replace brown sugar in some recipes. Sold as granules, blocks or liquid.

Honey Reportedly has medicinal benefits and contains enzymes and small amounts of minerals and B-complex vitamins. Choose raw honey, which has not been heat-treated. (Note: liquid honey does not spoil!)

Lucuma A low-glycemic powder made from a Peruvian fruit, lucuma has a slight maple flavor and gives foods a sort of creamy texture. Good in smoothies.

Mesquite Has a nutty carob-like flavor with a slight hint of caramel. High in fiber, the powder blends easily into mixtures.

Sucanant A granulated sweetener that is made by evaporating/dehydrating freshly squeezed cane juice. This less-processed method yields a somewhat coarse, tan-colored sugar. It's flavor is subtle.

Stevia A low-carbohydrate, low sugar herb, stevia is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. Available as a living plant (taste the leavesthey're unmistakably sweet!), powdered or in liquid extract form.

Yacon syrup Low-glycemic and comparatively low in calories, yacon tastes a bit like molasses and caramel.

Xylitol Made from birch trees, xylitol is a white crystalline powder that is odorless, with a taste similar to sucrose, but lower in calories. Should be kept away from pets.

Maple syrup Choose the darker, less filtered Grade B type, which has more minerals and is less processed than Grade A. Do not use the imitation or maple-flavored syrups that are really just corn syrup.

Before you use any of the above as a substitute in a recipe calling for cane sugar, be sure and do a little research about how to convert ingredients. Sometimes you may need to reduce or add liquids, adjust cooking temperature, etc.