Ladies, if you are like most women – you most likely have a sweet tooth. Please know there are healthy alternatives to curb your sweet while remaining health conscious.
Check out these following links and make the decision for yourself…
Is Sugar Toxic? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1
HOW SOFT DRINKS IMPACT YOUR HEALTH – http://www.termlifeinsurance.org/harmful-soda-full
Death By Sugar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH47sGmJZaQ&feature=youtube_gdata
Drinking Sugar: http://www.youtube.com/drinkingsugar
20 Reasons Why Sugar Ruins Your Health
Adapted from 146 Reasons Why Sugar Is Ruining Your Health by Nancy Appleton, Ph.D.
Artificial sweeteners, also called sugar substitutes, are substances that are used instead of sucrose (table sugar) to sweeten foods and beverages. Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Food Additives Amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which was passed by Congress in 1958, requires the FDA to approve food additives, including artificial sweeteners, before they can be made available for sale in the United States.
Currently, the FDA approves five artificial sweeteners: [1]
According to the National Cancer Institute, there is no clear evidence that the artificial sweeteners on the market in the United States are related to cancer risk in humans. However, numerous studies performed on laboratory rats link aspartame and saccharin to cancer, including a recent seven-year study conducted by a major nonprofit oncology lab in Italy. [2]
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), on the other hand, cautions everyone to avoid aspartame, saccharin and acesulfame K because they are unsafe consumed in large amounts or are very poorly tested and not worth the risk. The CSPI lists neotame and sucralose as safe.
Aspartame is of particular concern because it contains phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%) and methanol (10%), three well-recognized neurotoxins. The following symptoms have been associated with the consumption of aspartame: [3]
| headaches | nausea | dizziness |
| hearing loss | tinnitus | insomnia |
| blurred vision | eye problems | hallucinations |
| memory loss | slurred speech | mild to suicidal depression |
| personality changes | violent episodes | mood changes |
| anxiety attacks | hyperactivity heart | arrhythmia |
| edema or swelling | gastrointestinal disorders | Seizures. People who have the rare disease PKU (phenylketonuria) need to avoid aspartame because they are missing the enzymes necessary to digest phenylalanine and may end up with an excess that causes brain damage or seizures |
| skin lesions | muscle cramps | joint pains |
| fatigue | PMS | menstrual irregularities |
| chest pain | increased appetite | numbness and tingling of extremities |
Fortunately, most of the above symptoms are alleviated once aspartame use is discontinued.
Cyclamate, an artificial sweetener that is popular outside the U.S., is not FDA-approved.
See “Lowdown on Sweet?” published in The New York Times on February 12, 2006.
From “Aspartame: The Real Story” by Annemarie Colbin.
People who have the rare disease PKU (phenylketonuria) need to avoid aspartame because they are missing the enzymes necessary to digest phenylalanine and may end up with an excess that causes brain damage or seizures.
Why do we crave sweets? Have you ever craved a sweet food when looking for sweetness in your life? The average American consumes well over 20 teaspoons of added sugar on a daily basis, which adds up to an average of 142 pounds of sugar per person per year! That’s more than two times what the USDA recommends and is proof of sugar’s addictive nature. Here you’ll find information on natural sweeteners, all of which are gentler than the refined white stuff, easier on the body’s blood sugar, and available in most health food stores. Even though these sweeteners are less processed than white sugar, it is still recommended that they be used in moderation.
Agave nectar, or agave syrup, is a natural liquid sweetener made from the juice of the agave cactus. It is 1.4 times sweeter than refined sugar, but does not create a sugar rush, and is much less disturbing to the body’s blood sugar levels than white sugar. Due to its high fructose content and the fact that the glycemic index only measures glucose levels, agave syrup is noted for its lower glycemic index and glycemic load than many other natural. However, agave is high in fructose, higher than that of high-fructose corn syrup, and some research suggests that fructose does not shut off appetite hormones, and may decrease glucose tolerance, so you may end up overeating. Agave syrup naturally contains quantities of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. When baking with agave, reduce heat on oven by 25 degrees.
One of the oldest natural sweeteners, honey is sweeter than sugar. Depending on the plant source, honey can have a range of flavors, from dark and strongly flavored, to light and mildly flavored. Raw honey contains small amounts of enzymes, minerals and vitamins. Some vegans choose not to eat honey, as it is a byproduct of bees.
Maple syrup is made from boiled-down maple tree sap and contains many minerals. 40 gallons of sap are needed to make one gallon of maple syrup. It adds a pleasant flavor to foods and is great for baking. Be sure to buy 100% pure maple syrup and not maple-flavored corn syrup. Grade B is stronger in flavor and said to have more minerals than Grade A.
Maple sugar is created when the sap of the sugar maple is boiled for longer than is needed to create maple syrup. Once most of the water has evaporated, all that is left is the solid sugar. Maple sugar is about twice as sweet as standard granulated sugar, but much less refined.
Native South Americans have used this leafy herb for centuries. The extract from stevia is 100 to 300 times sweeter than white sugar. It can be used in cooking, baking and beverages, does not affect blood sugar levels, and has zero calories. Stevia is available in a powder or liquid form, but be sure to get the green or brown liquids or powders, because the white and clear versions are highly refined.
You do not have to stop living the life you led before a cancer diagnosis. Go out, enjoy the night and have fun. Check these links out to help you make some smart choices while dining out.
SMART SUSHI CHOICES – apps.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=29774
BEST SEAFOOD CHOICES – apps.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1521
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