Ingesting synthetic man made sugar substitutes is one of the worst things we can do for our health. All of them; NutraSweet, Splenda, Saccharin, are all molecularly altered substances that the human body was never designed to process, especially in the quantities that are being used daily by many millions of people. The people that are choosing to limit real sugar intake by using sugar free products are literally overdosing on all these chemicals.
These fake sugars are one of the leading cases of elevated liver enzymes, because our livers are forced to work way too hard to attempt to process and rid our bodies of these toxic substances. Elevated liver enzymes are one of the first warning signs of deeper health concerns, because they are the initial indicator of toxicity in our bodies. There are mounds of research connecting these chemicals to many forms of cancer. Using these substances to me is just not worth the health risk.
What are the alternatives? First let’s take a look at Stevia. Stevia is a completely natural plant that grows is native to South and Central America. Stevia is 300% sweeter than table sugar, and it is virtually calorie free so it works great in a low calorie or low glycemic index diet program. It does not elevate glucose (blood sugar) levels so it is useful for diabetics as well. It is available in both powdered and liquid forms, and is very convenient to use.
Next, there is Xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is was originally derived from the bark of the birch tree, but is also now extracted from the fibers of many fruits and vegetables including corn, plums and berries. Xylitol is an organic compound and is not molecularly altered in any way. It has roughly two thirds the calories of traditional sugars and does not significantly elevate blood glucose levels. It also has the benefit of being extremely tooth friendly and is used as a cavity preventer in various gums and toothpastes.
Both Stevia and Xylitol are far better sugar alternatives than any of the nationally advertised chemical sweeteners that are being marketed as safe. Try switching to one of these natural and healthy products for your sweetening needs.
