Brown sugar is no better for you than white sugar. http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/Reality-Ch... Xylitol is my preferred sugar substitute. It's lower in calories, and it has a much lower glycemic index. It also helps prevent cavities.
Well, in Brazil you can buy real brown sugar (raw sugar). I don't known the crap they sell elsewhere under this name. You can even buy it in blocks here (google "rapadura").
The problem isn't in the calories, which is equivalent per gram with refined sugar, but the fact refined lacks many nutrients. The article you mention is full of crap and doesn't link to any studies, but I can tell you raw sugar has ~5mg per 100g of Iron alone. Refined sugar has absolutely zero. In a 2000kcal diety, you're consuming 50g of sugar daily. You're getting along 1/4 of daily Iron intake if raw sugar is used, for free. I'm not even going to mention Magnesium, which 70% of the world's population is deficient on. I wouldn't say the benefits are negligible.
About Xylitol... what's the point in using an artificial sweetener that lacks any nutrients just because is has lower calories? Just cut caloric crap from the diet. The only benefit is for diabetics.
