Sweeteners

Not all sweeteners are alike. With the variety of different sweeteners to choose from, it’s confusing to know which one is the best choice. Faced with the common contradictions between what the brands state about their products and what testing results are concerning them, educating ourselves is the best defense for making our choices.

Fruits and vegetables provide natural sugar. Grapefruit, kiwi, green apples, berries are needed to feed beneficial microflora in the gut for a healthy immune system. The small amounts of fructose in fruits and vegetables are balances with minerals, vitamins and other vital nutrients.

Refined sugar - is an extremely high glycemic food; it hits your bloodstream hard and can have severe impact on blood sugar, insulin levels, digestive enzyme count, weight, and the pancreas. White sugar suppresses the immune system. It has been shown to decrease the vitality and number of white blood cells, the body's immune response to invaders. Sugar also depresses the body's energy field and makes your blood more acidic, both of which result in vulnerability to toxins, bacteria and viruses. Sugar feeds bacteria like candida and yeast infections. White sugar suppresses the immune system. It has been shown to decrease the vitality and number of white blood cells, the body's immune response to invaders. Sugar also depresses the body's energy field and makes your blood more acidic, both of which result in vulnerability to toxins, bacteria and viruses. Sugar feeds bacteria like candida and yeast infections. White sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and even unrefined cane sugar all have health risks that you deserve to know about before you bite into them.


Aspartame - (Brands:  Equal, NutraSweet) This is a common chemical sweetener used in soda or other low-sugar goods. There have been some reports this causes headaches or a feeling of being unwell after ingesting this chemical. The University of Liverpool did a test tube study which found this is actually toxic to brain cells. Diet sodas (which contain aspartame) may increase the risk of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Researchers have found one harmful breakdown product is formaldehyde.

Agave – this is commonly found in health food stores. It’s best to find types of this that do not contain more than 30 to 40 percent fructose. (Most contain 70% to 80% fructose which is more than what is found in high fructose corn syrup.) Agave is very heavily processed in an extremely energy-intensive manner that is similar to the way corn is converted into high fructose corn syrup.

Sucralose – Brand name: Splenda. This originates with sugar but the end product is not natural. Chlorine is used in its processing. It is passing through our bodies and ending up on wastewater treatment plants where it can’t be broken down.

Stevia – this is the safest sweetener there is, and a good choice for an alternative to the above items.  It also has many medicinal properties such as aiding digestion and lowering blood sugar levels. All types of Stevia are extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. Some forms do taste better than others. This comes in a powdered or liquid form. It has no calories, no carbohydrates, and a zero glycemic index which makes it a great natural alternative to sugar and chemical sweeteners. Stevia is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar.  It is best used when not baking with it.

Sugar alcohols – Other names: Xylitol, Sorbitol and Erythritol. These are natural sweeteners made through a fermentation process of corn and sugar cane. In comparison to sweeteners like sugar and honey, they have fewer calories but in comparison to Stevia, they have more. Interestingly, they also leave a cooling sensation in the mouth and have been found to prevent cavities. Used moderately, it will not cause GI distress.

Organic, raw local honey – this contains many cancer – defending antioxidants and is said to help alleviate allergy symptoms. Honey does have a higher fructose level, and a low glycemic index; it will not lead to energy busting blood sugar drops later in the day. Not only is this wonderful to sweeten tea, it helps to speed up healing burns and is a natural antiseptic on cuts and scrapes!

Blackstrap molasses – this is rich in iron, potassium and calcium (although heavy on the calorie content). It comes from sugar cane, as does refined sugar. It is a healthier choice than nutritionally defunct artificial sweeteners or even regular refined sugar.

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.