Artificial Sweeteners

Let's talk sugar, sugar.

Sugar, aka sucrose, is a carbohydrate that is present naturally in fruits and vegetables.  Carbohydrates, including sugar, are the preferred sources of the body’s fuel for brain power, muscle energy and every natural process that goes on in every functioning cell... Basically it's important. But here's the thing... We Americans like to go overboard. In a world where processed foods are the norm, there is hidden sugar everywhere. WHO recommends 25g of sugar per day or 5% of your total caloric intake. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret and tell you that eating that amount of sugar is impossible if your normal diet consists of processed foods, drive thru windows, and even restaurants. Increased sugar intake is linked with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other obesity related diseases. Basically what I'm saying is that making increased sugar intake a habit is not good for your body. 

That's where artificial sweeteners step in. These bad boys taste like sugar but your body doesn't necessarily react to them the same way. Sound to good to be true? Well, it might be. 

All artificial sweeteners are chemically processed. So even if that little label claims to be natural... There's still some processing involved. The good news is there's no current evidence that proves they cause cancer or other serious health problems. They can help with weight control and they generally don't raise your blood sugar levels, which is great news for diabetics. So... What's the issue then? 

Here's my issue: These sweeteners are what we call intense sweeteners. That means they are waaaay sweeter than real sugar, which means we only use a tiny amount of them... Which is why they are calorie free, you're using a much smaller volume. The problem is that these sweeteners are so sweet that extended use of them makes regular sugar taste blah. That means the natural sugars in things like fruits just won't satisfy. I'll list some of the popular sweeteners below along with just how much sweeter than table sugar they are. I think it just might blow your mind.

Sweet N Low (saccharin) - 200-700 times sweeter

Splenda (sucralose) - 600 times sweeter

Truvia (stevia) - 300 times sweeter

Equal (aspartame) - 220 times sweeter 

Pretty nuts huh? Here's what I'm not saying... I'm not saying that artificial sweeteners are completely terrible for you, and I'm not even saying regular sugar is terrible either. I'm saying use all of them in moderation. I'm also saying to keep your processed food intake to a minimum. Oh and while we are on that note... Honey and agave... Yea, they're still sugar so don't get too high and mighty thinking you're going the all natural route. At the end of the day sugar is sugar, even if you disguise it as a sweetener. I challenge you to pay really close attention to your sugar intake for just one day this week. You might be surprised with what you find out. 

- Leslie