The Right Sweetener May Support Good Health
By Tom Herrin
For many years, people have struggled with sugar. It can play a big part in damaging health. Those who are diabetic have to watch closely. Until the introduction of a practical artificial sweetener, it was always risky to consume sugar. In much older times, a sweetener called sugar of lead was used by some. Since it was made from lead, it could wreck health or even cause death. Once saccharin was marketed in the late 1800s, it changed the outlook of many diabetics. A scare some years ago was caused by some flawed studies that connected saccharin to cancers. In the past few years, several other sugar-free sweeteners have been developed. Some even taste more like sugar.
Diabetes Have Better Options
At one time, in order for diabetics to maintain their health, they had to avoid all kinds of foods and drinks. With artificial sweeteners, they can enjoy pretty much the same foods and drinks as anyone else. Sugar-free treats can be pretty good tasting. Many of the drinks have no calories at all and taste more and more like those with sugar. Lots of people also cook or bake with sugar substitutes. Once they get a good sense of how to use them, they are not bad.
Sweeteners for Weight Management
In the past few years, a lot of people have resorted to relying on artificial sweeteners to help limit calories and control their weight. As better-tasting artificial sweeteners have been introduced, they seem to have been increasingly popular. I found myself using them not too many years ago. The other side of this is that there have been some studies done that indicate that some of these sweeteners may increase hunger and cause people to eat more. In some cases, they have gained weight while drinking sugar-free drinks. It is still open for some debate but bears some consideration.
Sugar Is Not Evil
While sugar has been given a black eye by some, much of it is due to the fact that too many of us develop bad habits. Continuous snacking tends to pack on weight. Unless we are diabetic, we should be able to have an occasional sweet treat without fear of creating a health problem. We simply have to know when to stop. Placing limits on ourselves when eating or drinking something sweet can help us to form good habits. It is also a good idea to have some way to clean our teeth afterwards.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Englewood, Colo.