Alternatives to sugar are tremendously important. Have you ever noticed how much sugar is our food? There are 77 grams of sugar in a 20 oz. bottle of Mountain Dew! There are 55 grams on one Cinnabon Cinnamon roll. If your child had Captain Crunch cereal this morning for breakfast, he likely took in 24 grams from just one bowl. The more sugar we consume, the more sugar our body tells us we need. A person can actually be addicted to sugar! Read on to see why sugar addiction is harmful and what you can do about it.
Weight Control
Excessive sugar intake is directly related to budging belly syndrome. Those empty calories you consume not only turn to fat, but they can also leave you feeling tired and used up. Dieters know what to look for on food labels; Cane sugar, high fructose corn syrup, glucose, sorghum syrup are all kinds of sugar
Popular Brands of Artificial Sweetners
Equal, Sweet’N Low, and Splenda are the three sisters of sugar substitutes commonly used in food consumption. The packets quickly dissolve in hot or cold drinks. These products have been approved by the FDA as safe for consumers. They allow you to enjoy coffee, tea, and fruit without loading up on calories.
Natural Alternatives to Sugar
Natural alternatives to sugar are readily available. Although they contain real sugar, their concentrated natures allow a person to use less natural sweetener than they would processed sugar. Maple syrup is an example of a natural sweetener that has fewer calories than processed sugar. It is also loaded with minerals! Although honey is higher in calories than sugar, it is actually sweeter than sugar. You can substitute ¾ cup of honey for 1 cup of sugar. Diabetics may actually be discouraged from using natural alternatives to sugar such as honey and maple syrup and should follow their doctor' plan.
Health Benefits
Elevated sugar intake is associated with type two diabetes. It can raise triglyceride levels and lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Doctors and scientists now associate too much sugar consumption with heart disease as well. Not to mention the well-documented fact that sugar is bad for your teeth.
