The Pros & the Cons of Sugar Substitutes | Liz Pearson

Too much sugar isn?t good for you and you want to cut back.? Are sugar substitutes or low calorie sweeteners, like aspartame (Equal or Nutrasweet) or sucralose (Splenda), a safe and healthy option?? Do they make it easier to reduce your sugar and calorie intake, yet satisfy your craving for something sweet?? Do they make life more delicious?? Here?s my take on the subject:

PROS of Sugar Substitutes:

* Sugar substitutes or low calorie sweeteners must undergo extensive research to show their safety and effectiveness before organizations like Health Canada or the FDA will approve them for use.? Acceptable Daily Intake levels are determined to minimize any possible risk.? As new research becomes available, that research is also reviewed on a regular basis.

* The dangers you hear about their use primarily come from websites or other sources that do not provide accurate or credible information.? Most major health organizations, including Dietitians of Canada and the American Dietetic Association, consider them safe.

* They can aid in weight loss and weight management.? This is only true if you use them to cut calories rather than as an excuse to eat more high-calorie foods (a diet coke combined with a Big Mac and fries doesn?t make for a healthy meal).

* They can help you reduce your intake of sugar while maintaining some of the sweetness in your diet that you enjoy.

* They can be particularly helpful for people who suffer from diabetes and need to manage blood sugar levels more closely.

CONS of Sugar Substitutes:

* They generally don?t provide any nutritional value and foods that contain them often replace better choices.? For example, diet soft drinks frequently replace healthier drink choices like water, tea or low-fat milk (having said that I would still rather see someone have a diet coke instead of a regular coke).

* They may encourage a preference for sweet foods in your diet, including those that contain sugar.? You get used to the taste of sweet.

* Most sugar substitutes have been around for 30 to 40 years or less and are not a natural part of our food environment.? Research on the effects of a lifetime of use in humans is currently not available.

* Learning to enjoy foods with less sweetness and foods that are naturally sweet, like fruit, is your healthiest option.

?Lessons Learned:

• Sugar substitutes or low calorie sweeteners, in moderation, can be part of a healthy eating plan.? Enjoying mostly foods that are naturally sweet, like fruit, is still your healthiest eating option.

Source: http://www.lizpearson.com/the-pros-the-cons-of-sugar-substitutes

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