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Writer's pictureLana Davis

Artificial Sugars Good, Bad or a No?


There are plenty of ways to sweeten your food without using SUGAR, here are 4 ways you can get the yumminess of sweetness without all the crud!


1. Stevia: Is a South American plant. Stevia is extracted from one of two compounds — stevioside and rebaudioside A. Each contains zero calories, can be up to 350 times sweeter than table sugar. Stevioside, a sweet compound in stevia, has been shown to lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and insulin levels but there is still much needed d to be done on long term health benefits.


2. Sugar Alcohols: Xylitol is a sugar alcohol with a sweetness similar to that of sugar. It’s extracted from corn or birch wood and found in many fruits and vegetables. Xylitol contains 2.4 calories per gram, which is 40% fewer calories than sugar. many studies surrounding xylitol are outdated and done on rats. When consumed in moderation, xylitol is generally well tolerated by humans, but it can be highly toxic to dogs. Erythritol is also sugar alcohol, but it contains even fewer calories, only 0.24 calories per gram, erythritol contains 6% of the calories of regular sugar. Erythritol tastes almost exactly like sugar, making it an easy switch. Our bodies do not have the enzymes to break down the majority of erythritol, so most of it is absorbed directly into our bloodstream and excreted in our urine. Seems to have none of the harmful effects of regular sugar and erythritol does not raise blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, or triglyceride levels. But a study in college students without obesity linked erythritol blood levels to increased fat mass and weight gain.


3. Natural Sugars: Several natural sweeteners are often used by health-conscious people in place of sugar. These include coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, and molasses. These natural sugar alternatives may contain a few more nutrients than regular sugar, but your body still metabolizes them the same way.


4. Monk Fruit Sugars: Monk fruit sweetener is extracted from monk fruit, a small round fruit grown in Southeast Asia. This natural Keto friendly alternative contains zero calories and is 100–250 times sweeter than sugar. Monk fruit contains natural sugars like fructose and glucose, but it gets its sweetness from antioxidants called mogrosides. Beware & check the back as monk fruit extract is often be mixed with other sweeteners.


Note while doing research for this article I found Agave isn’t as healthy as we assume because it often consists of 85% fructose which is probably one of the worst ingredients for us. As you see it really doesn’t matter which of these options you choose, as sweeteners they should be consumed in moderation.


Don’t forget before you buy any of these items or any item, check the back, read the labels, exercise portion control & self-control!

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