thoughts on sweeteners that aren't real sugar? (calories, salt, blood sugar)
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heard a lot of back and forth on not using real sugar because it's awful for you but artificial sweetener is just as bad. what is the better option?
Refined sugar basically has no nutrients, just calories, no nutrients.
Cane sugar, honey, molasses and other natural sweeteners may have some fiber.
My understanding is that artificial sweeteners play havoc with your intestinal flora, which, I may add, is no joke and affects how you feel right now if you are sensitive too it. Long-term, some say it may contribute to development of cancer.
I would say the better option is natural sweeteners (not refined) in moderation. Repeat, in moderation, as some posters have already mentioned. Even better is to eliminate them altogether because you will ingest enough sugars naturally occurring in many healthy foods.
IMO sucralose is a useful artificial sweetener because the amounts needed are tiny.
A relatively new, natural (extracted from the Bocha squash) non-glycemic sweetener is a product called Bochasweet. It looks and tastes like sugar, has about 3/4 the sweetness of sucrose. The only real drawback is the cost.
Let's face it, people like sweet. It's one of the five basic tastes for pete's sake. Instead of beating yourself up, how about just learn how to enjoy sweet things in moderation? Artificial sweeteners and sugar alike. Don't go overboard and I'm sure you'll be all right.
I learned several years ago to like food unsweetened. The sweetest thing I eat as a regular part of my diet is fresh fruit. No artificial sweeteners at all. I do use 2 tsp of sugar in my cole slaw dressing which is bitter without any, but much healthier than the 1/2 cup the recipe calls for.
I used to chug artificial sweeteners. Lots of diet soda, packets in my hot tea and cold cereal, making hot chocolate with cocoa powder and AS, etc.
I still have something sweet (with real cane sugar only) about once a week as a dessert with my treat meal.
I've found it much easier to control my weight since I cut out the artificial sweeteners. Coincidence? I doubt it very much. I do believe there's something to the research that says there's something about them that makes many of us lose the ability to feel the signal our body gives us when we're full. I personally find it much easier now to stop eating when I've had enough.
Unless I'm mistaken, organic stevia is the safest, non-calorie sweetener. Both real sugar and artificial sugars are associated with health issues.
Apparently, businesses have fought over the introduction of stevia into the US, though the product is common in Europe. Truvia is readily available now, but only after a long fight. And it may be less healthy than the organic variety.
For those of us who have to watch our sugar load, I have found there is nothing better than xylitol granules. It looks and tastes nearly exactly like sugar (though it will not carmelize when cooked). It is good for dental issues and also acts as a prebiotic. Unlike the other "tols" it will not give one gastric issues unless consumed in excess of 40 grams per day. It also keeps the mouth moist if you have "dry mouth syndrome" I have been using it for years and will never be without it. The only drawback is cost, but a couple pounds lasts me a long time because I don't really cook with it, only rarely.
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