What is sweeter than sugar?
7 July 2008Is sugar really the worst thing we can eat?
What are the alternatives? Splenda, Xylitol, Aspartame, Sorbitol, What to choose. The best choice of the 5 for me personally is hands down – Sugar. Pure unadulterated, organic, brown (raw) cane sugar. Now that isn’t a green light to go out there and suck down buckets of sugar, after all, moderation is everything – right?
But why not choose Splenda or any one of the other varieties of fake or artificial sweeteners?
Splenda: According to Wikipedia “Sucralose is an artificial sweetener originally sold under the trade name Splenda, but now also supplied by a variety of manufacturers under various brand names. … Sucralose is approximately 600 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar), twice as sweet as saccharin, and four times as sweet as aspartame. Unlike aspartame, it is stable under heat and over a broad range of pH conditions and can be used in baking or in products that require a longer shelf life.” Sounds fairly benign to me, or is it? Splenda is used as a replacement sweetener in more than 4,500 drinks and foods. As you research this product on the internet for every pro-splenda site, I found many more negative pages dedicated to the dangers of using this additive. Splenda exposed has this to say “Splenda CAN adversely affect the body in several ways because it IS a chemical substance and not natural sugar. New chemical sweeteners (like Splenda) and the sweetener blends (aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame K blended together in one product) may be causing users to show signs of weight gain, disruption of sleep patterns, sexual dysfunction, increases in cancer, MS, Lupus, diabetes, and a list of epidemic degenerative diseases. The corporations continue to stand tough in their denial of any connection to chemical sweetener additives.” As you read the documentation regarding the various additives and the problems you might encounter if you chose to use them, your choice becomes so much easier to make.
In the case of Aspartame the Mayo Clinic lists aspartame as not ok for cooking or heating but ok for beverages, and safe if you drink it. “Artificial sweeteners are often the subject of stories in the popular press and on the Internet, claiming that they cause a variety of health problems, including cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, however, there’s no scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States cause cancer. And numerous studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are safe for the general population. Aspartame does carry a cautionary note, however. It isn’t safe for people who have the rare hereditary disease phenylketonuria (PKU). Products that contain aspartame must carry a PKU warning on the label.” Ok that does not make me feel better about eating or drinking this additive. If it has been proven to be dangerous to anyone ingesting it - I don’t want to eat it either!!!
Sorbitol is another of the artificial sweeteners and is often found in chewing gum. If nothing else, high doses of sorbitol can help you lose weight, just not in a good way. High sorbitol consumption can have a very bad laxative effect.
Xylitol is fast becoming the go-to alternative for sugar. Everything I have read so far about Xylitol seems to be positive. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener from the fibers of many fruits and vegetables, including various berries, corn husks, oats, and mushrooms. And for people it can have some benefits, including combating oral yeast infections and dental care. But one word of caution, Xylitol has been shown to be extremely toxic to dogs, even in very low doses. A single piece of Xylitol gum can poison a small dog and can cause acute liver failure, various blood disorders and problems that may prove to be fatal.
Stevia was also touted as an alternative to the toxic-sweetener debate. The Mayo clinic documents Stevia as a herb used as an artificial sweetener in certain parts of the world. Stevia extracts can be hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. Stevia has virtually no calories and doesn’t raise blood sugar levels. Some studies suggest that stevia may help treat type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.” Which all sounds fantastic, until you read further: “Side effects of stevia are generally mild, such as muscle weakness, dizziness and nausea. But questions about the risks of stevia linger, including possible effects on the reproductive system and kidneys. In the United States, stevia is available only as a dietary supplement. The Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved the use of stevia as an artificial sweetener or food additive. If you’re considering taking stevia as a dietary supplement, consult your doctor about the possible risks and benefits.” Ok now that does not sound quite so appealing, a sweetener that comes with a doctor’s warning just cannot be good.
Before deciding to go with any one of these options, beside sugar, type your artificial sweetener of choice into Google and read the good – and the bad – to make a decision as to whether it’s something you continue to use.
Sometimes it just comes down to cancer vs. calories, choose wisely.
Make an adjustment: Be healthy ~ Be Happy ~ Become an informed consumer. Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at Fontana Chiropractic 303.674.1500 or email office@fontanachiro.com
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July 21st, 2008 at 8:35 am
[...] One has to question whether, with the controversy over aspartame, launching another additive with a similar type of property is really a good idea. Although we have to remember that this controversy is by no means limited to these two artificial ingredients, there seems to be negative connotations with most of the artificial sugar/sweeteners, a summary of which can be read here. [...]