Alternatives To Sugar
In the past I have written about the ill effects of sugar in our diets. Sugar is one of the major components to weight gain, diabetes, ill health and much more. Many believe that if we take sugar out of our diet and replace it with Splenda, Nutrisweet or Sucrilose, for example, we will have solved the problem.
Well, we are sad to announce that this just is not so. Splenda, Nutrisweet and Sucrilose will cause your body to react in the exact same way that sugar will. It will spike your blood sugar up just like real sugar. Your body unfortunately does not know the difference from real sugar and a substitute.
The other thing you must know is that most sugar alternatives are chock full of damaging preservatives and chemicals. Here is what Dr. Mercola has written on the effects of Nutrisweet, Splenda, and Equal:
Let's take aspartame (the key to Equal and Nutrasweet) for starters. Research has found that the components of this deadly ingredient may lead to a wide variety of ailments including:
• Epilepsy/seizures
• Migraines and headaches
• Depression
• Brain tumors
• Autoimmune diseases
However, Splenda is not a day at the beach either, as research in animals has shown that consuming sucralose comes hand in hand with a plethora of health problems including:
• Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40 percent shrinkage)
• Enlarged liver and kidneys
• Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus
• Reduced growth rate
• Decreased red blood cell count
• Extension of the pregnancy period
• Aborted pregnancy
• Diarrhea
For these many, many reasons it is wise to avoid artificial sweeteners. In addition, eating too much REAL sugar will also adversely affect your health, as it will cause your blood sugar level to rise. If your blood sugar levels remain elevated (even mildly) over a period of time, your risk of diabetes will increase, which will increase your risk of cancer.
Unlike aspartame, suclarose and other artificial sweeteners that have been cited for dangerous toxicities, stevia is a natural alternative that's ideal for diabetics, those watching their weight and anyone interested in maintaining their health. Stevia can be used in appetizers, beverages, soups, salads, vegetables, desserts -- virtually anything! It is, hands down, the best alternative to sugar you will ever taste.
I have discovered the benefits of Stevia. We use it in on our cereal, in our tea, and in place of sugar in baking. We have found one problem with the baking end of Stevia. It does not provide the bulk in say a cookie or a cake that real sugar provides. I called our friend Mayo Underwood of Underwood Gardens. Mayo sells liquid Stevia that she grows on site. She suggests adding applesauce to your recipe to increase the bulk of your baked good. Matt and I have been using Stevia for 2 years now and have had no ill effects in fact we feel much better now that we are off the sugar rollercoaster!