Are Artificial Sweeteners Okay?

I’m always amazed when friends or family ask for Sweet ‘n Low or Splenda, and they are always amazed when I say I don’t have any!  I’ve never used artificial sweeteners and have always been leery of them.

The American diet is inundated with sugar – in cereals, crackers, cookies and hidden away in other processed foods.  It’s in fruit juices, sodas, flavored water, energy drinks and diet drinks.  It’s an additive for coffee and tea and used in baking and cooking.  Our bodies need sugar as a source of energy, but when natural sugar is refined or overused, it upsets the natural balance and loses its benefits.  Sugar is definitely overused and its overuse results in all sorts of problems, including diabetes, weight gain, a compromised immune system and depression, to name a few. Artificial sugars aren’t sugar, but you still get the sweet flavor without the calories!  Perfect, right?  For those with diabetes, yes, but for the rest of us?  Not really.

SWEETENER	QUANTITY	CALORIES
Natural
Brown Sugar – chemically processed	1 tsp	15
Cane Sugar – chemically processed	1 tsp	15
Honey	1 tsp	20
Molasses	1 tsp	20
White Sugar – chemically processed	1 tsp	15
Stevia	1 packet	0
Raw Organic Agave	1 Tbs	60
Artificial
Equal	1 packet	5
NutraSweet	1 tsp	2
Splenda	1 tsp	5
Sweet N Low	1 packet	0
Sucanat	1 tsp	16

 

Two main artificial sugars are saccharin (Sweet N’ Low) and aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal and Sugar Twin).   Both are approved by the FDA, but they have no nutritional value and studies show that there are possible cancer links as well as allergic reactions.  Aspartame, which is found in more than 6000 products, is even more controversial than saccharin. It has been associated with headaches, dizziness, change in mood, vomiting or nausea, abdominal pain and cramps, change in vision, diarrhea, seizures/convulsions, memory loss, fatigue and even weight gain.  In addition, there are links to fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, tinnitus, joint pain, anxiety attacks, blurred vision, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, unexplainable depression, slurred speech, and various cancers.  Scary!

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saccharin was first produced in 1878 by a chemist working on coal tar derivatives; today it’s manufactured with chlorine and ammonia.   Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by a chemist working for G.D.Searle and Company, and is composed of three main compounds – aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol (wood alcohol), all of which can be dangerous.  As Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Food Rules, says, “If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.”    I know that the FDA says they are safe, but I’d rather err on the side of caution and sparingly use natural, unrefined sugars.  That means avoiding products labeled as “low calorie”, “diet”, “sugar free” or “no sugar added” too!  Saving only 10 calories or so just doesn’t seem like a good risk to me.

Information compiled from www.medicinenet.com/; naturalhealthsherpa.com; http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/

 

 

 

HONEY, SO MUCH MORE THAN A SWEETENER!

Honey is an excellent sugar substitute, but it is so much more!  Honey heals the body inside and  out.  Doctors have been using honey for centuries, but with the introduction of antibiotics, its usage has declined.

Image by Peter Wild

Honey is a natural antiseptic and promotes healing of minor cuts, scrapes and skin wounds.  Its natural sugar (fructose) absorbs the moisture in the wound and draws out the pus, making it hard for bacteria to grow.  As it dries it forms a natural bandage.  Propolis found in some honeys also kills bacteria.  I applied it to my kids’ scrapes and cuts and it not only healed the wounds, but seemed to eliminate scarring as well.

Honey’s antimicrobial benefits are effective for treating sore throats, colds and laryngitis.  Mix it with hot lemon juice and water to coat your throat and larynx.  Its antibacterial properties can help improve digestion, and its high content of natural fructose can relieve constipation and diarrhea.  Just don’t consume too much!

Studies have shown that manuka honey, a medical grade honey with the most active ingredients, kills the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers and is effective in treating acid reflux and heartburn.  Manuka honey comes from a flowering shrub in New Zealand and can be purchased online at 
http://www.manukahoneyusa.com.

Honey is also high in antioxidants, particularly dark honey from buckwheat, promoting anti-carcinogenic properties.  Due to its natural source of carbohydrates, honey is an energy boost and helps combat muscle fatigue when exercising.

If you have allergies, try eating local honey.  Bees gather the pollen from local plants and the honey produced can help prevent seasonal allergies.

Since honey is gentle on the stomach, some people use it to help cure a hangover.  The fructose speeds up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver.

Honey has the ability to attract water and is good for your skin, even sensitive skin. You can use it as a moisturizing mask for your skin and hair!  And don’t forget the age-old remedy of warm milk and honey before bed for relaxation.

This is a good time of year to buy local honey at Farmer’s Markets.  Shop for raw honey since high heat destroys some of the protective compounds.  The next time you need to treat a wound or a cold, use the honey in your kitchen.  A couple of teaspoons a day of this wonder food will help you maintain optimum good health and fight disease.

Note:  Honey should not be consumed by children under two years of age.

Information compiled from The Doctor’s Book of Food Remedies,  The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D.  
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/health-benefits-of-honey.html
,
http://www.bees-online.com/HealthBenefitsOfHoney.htm