The 411 on Sugar and Which Kind is Better

A little Sugar Knowledge for you!!

Here’s the 411 on SUGAR! Did you know this???

-Sugar is extracted from plants like sugar cane and sugar beets. While “natural,” it is high in calories and raises blood sugar, which we know contributes to obesity and diabetes.

Other natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, coconut nectar, and agave are also 15+ calories per tsp, and raise blood sugar. The avg. American consumes 20 tsp. a day (300 extra calories from sugar daily). Added sugars get disguised under 50+ names like evaporated cane juice and fructose, making it easy to overdo.

Yet, since the introduction of artificial sweeteners, our obesity and diabetes epidemic has actually worsened- by a lot! The American Cancer Society found significant correlations between consuming artificial sweeteners and gaining weight, and being more likely to be obese.

Artificial Sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes. Their names are Aspartame, Ace-K, Saccharin and Sucralose. Their brand names, Equal, Sweet ‘n Low and Splenda.

Eventhough they are “sugar free,” researchers are finding that their sweetness may trick the brain and body to produce insulin unnecessarily that causes a rise in body weight and fat.

Research has also shown them to cause a series of unhealthy events like increasing appetite, calories consumed later in the day, neurologic effects, inability to respond to insulin, and disrupting the healthy bacteria in your gut.

Stevia is a plant-based sweetener, originally from the rain forests of Brazil and Paraguay. It has been used for hundreds of years to treat burns and alleviate stomach pains. It’s also been seen to act as an anti-inflammatory and may help lower blood pressure and control blood sugar levels. Plus, it is regularly consumed by countries that have some of the lowest obesity and diabetes rates like Brazil and Japan. Plus, it doesn’t contain calories or increase blood sugar! Yes, it has a slightly bitter (plant-like) aftertaste but you do get used to it.