Elizabeth Williams
Administrative Assistant & Wellness Committee Member
Hill, Chesson & Woody
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I have to admit I?ve been a culprit of consuming fake sugar for the simple fact that I think somehow it?s better for you. I wonder why we, as a society, choose to eat things that are altered or processed rather than eat something real, but in moderation? Is it the fear of gaining weight? Are we afraid of the word sugar? And by ?sugar? I don?t mean the white processed stuff that we think is sugar. Rather, I?m talking about sugar in raw form from sugarcane.
Contrary to belief, you don?t necessarily need to use white sugar when cooking or baking. Try to use alternatives like raw honey, agave nectar, maple syrup or real fruit juice to sweeten your food. You will be surprised at how good it tastes!? Then, when you have something to eat with processed sugar, it will taste very different to you.
Now, what are actual artificial sugar sweeteners? A sugar substitute is a food additive that duplicates the effect of sugar in taste, usually with less food energy. Some sugar substitutes are natural and some are synthetic. Those that are not natural are generally called artificial sweeteners. There are five sweeteners that are approved by the FDA:
- Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal)
- Saccharin (Sweet N Low)
- Sucralose (Splenda)
- Acesulfame K (used in food and beverages)
- Neotame (used in soft drinks and low-calorie food)
As I write this list, I wonder why I would want to put these in my body when I can?t even pronounce them. Sugar substitutes are linked to many diseases like cancer, obesity, Type II Diabetes, and the list goes on. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) fed two groups of rats a solution containing high-fructose corn syrup ? a common ingredient in processed foods ? as drinking water for six weeks. One group of rats was supplemented with brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while the other group was not.
Can you guess the outcome? Eating a diet high in sugar can lead to not only weight gain but having your brain think and react differently. Upon reading all this information about sugar, I think the real question here isn?t between real vs. fake sugar but sugar vs. no sugar.
Robert Lustig, who is a specialist on pediatric hormone disorders and the leading expert in childhood obesity at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, wrote an article in 2009 on Sugar: The Bitter Truth. Lustig writes ?It?s not about the calories. It has nothing to do with the calories. It?s a poison by itself.? I?m not sure about you, but I really don?t want to be poisoning my body!
The whole sugar debate continues to be very heated with many components and sides. I?m not saying ?Put down the candy bar and no one will get hurt.? But, read up on the sugar debate and make an educated decision for your lifestyle and health. I think you?ll be surprised at how quickly your opinion will change.
For me, I?m going to try and sweeten my foods with natural ingredients. In fact, I picked up 100% pure maple syrup the other day and have used a little bit on my Greek yogurt, fruit and toasted bread. Although it?s a little bit more expensive, it will last longer and I feel like I?m putting something whole in my body and not processed. I?m actually pleasantly surprised how good it tastes and satisfies my cravings!
What are your thoughts?? Share your comments below.
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