Do You Avoid Sugar?
By Tom Herrin
It is pretty common today for people to try to take in less sugar. There has been quite a bit of information out regarding the effects of sugar. We are living in a world in which diabetes is a major contributor to serious health problems. As a result, there is much greater awareness of things to avoid and ways to modify our diets successfully. We are also seeing many negative effects of sugar on those who are not diabetic. If you are into reading labels, as I am, you will note that many packaged products on the shelves are loaded with sugar. It is a great way to sell something, even if it does not have a unique flavor.
Sugar Substitutes
There has been an identified need for some kind of substitute for sugar for many years. The first true artificial sweetener was developed well over 100 years ago. I can only imagine how foods and drinks containing them might have tasted. Since that time, lots of progress has been made. The sweet flavor is much better, but there have been a variety of problems these products have had. Some have been serious health concerns. Because of this, many people have tried to stay away from their use. Some of this may have been overblown.
The Real Need
Diabetics have the greatest need to use something other than real sugar. It is essential for them to do so if they want to maintain good health. In these cases, the good may well outweigh the bad. Their risk of having a serious health problem is much greater if they do not manage their diabetes. With this in mind, it can be said that there are plenty of options available as to artificial sweeteners.
Real Sugar Is Not All Bad
Even though there are quite a few things that sugar may do to us, we usually do it to ourselves. Many who use substitutes do so because they want to enjoy a sweet taste without calories. For some, this may be a bad reason to do this. a teaspoonful of sugar only contains a few calories. If we can practice some self-discipline, we may be better off simply making dramatic cuts in the amount of sugar we use and making sure to clean our teeth well afterwards. We can't make consuming sugar an everyday practice.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Las Vegas, Nev.