I'm Overloading Google.

Becoming Vegan is not an over night decision. It's a process of learning any and everything you possibly can, putting it into action, and sharing the knowledge with anyone who will listen (or read). I have overloaded Google with a billion questions this past week. This was what I focused on earlier this morning. 

Is sugar vegan?
Technically sugar is vegan. However, the way it is refined is not. In most cases white cane sugar is filtered with bone char. 

Many companies will call this "natural charcoal". This is to feed the consumer's need for the white 'pure' crystals. No need to fret, there are sugars that are completely char-free.  

Bone Char-Free Sugars Produced By U.S. Companies
Company	Brand Name
C&H Sugar	C&H Pure Cane Washed Raw Sugar C&H Pure Cane Certified Organic Sugar
Cumberland Packing Company	Sugar in the Raw
Domino Sugar	Domino Demerara Washed Raw Cane Sugar Domino Pure Cane Certified Organic Sugar
Florida Crystals	Florida Crystals Demerara Natural Sugar Organic Evaporated Cane Juice (granulated and powdered) Golden Granulated Evaporated Cane Juice Florida Crystals Milled Cane Natural Sugar Florida Crystals Certified Organic Natural Sugar
Great Eastern Sun	Sweet Cloud Organic Raw Cane Sugar
Hain Celestial Group	Hain Organic Brown Sugar Hain Organic Powdered Sugar
Shady Maple Farms	Shady Maple Farms Granulated Maple Sugar
Tropical Traditions	Rapadura Whole Organic Sugar
Wholesome Sweeteners	Light Muscovado Sugar Dark Muscovado Sugar Sucanat (granulated and powdered) Organic Sucanat (granulated and powdered)
NOTE: 100% Pure Beet Sugar is not passed through a bone char filter.

This is all great, but I would like to step outside of the traditional white cane sugar and venture into some of the natural and vegan options out there that I am personally excited to try. 

Agave Nectar is what I will be purchasing first. It is the juice from its plants leaves that is filtered, heated, and concentrated. It has anti-inflammatory and immune system boosting properties, including antimicrobial capability. I can't wait to whip up a batch of cookies! A few things I have learned about it though when it comes to baking to keep in mind...Agave is 1.4 times sweeter than sugar, adds additional liquid to the recipe, browns quicker, and will make the batter a bit stickier. You can take a look at the glycemic values of Agave Nectar compared to other vegan sweeteners. 

GLYCEMIC VALUES
Organic Agave Nectar 27
Fructose (fruit sugar) 32
Lactose (milk sugar) 65
Honey 83
High fructose corn syrup 89
Sucrose (sugar) 92
Glucose 137
Glucose tablets 146
Maltodextrin 150
Maltose 150

It's empowering to make informed decisions and know that you are giving yourself, your loved ones, and the earth the very best.