Does Your Sweet Tooth Get You?
By Tom Herrin
A lot of us like things that taste sweet. Whether it is food or drinks, it can be pretty easy to become hooked on the sweetness that comes with these. For some of us, there may be few problems, but for many the cost to our health may be severe. As a result of so much of this demand, more and more products are being delivered that have a sweet taste but use some kind of artificial sweetener to produce it. While this may not have been the intentions of those who developed such sweeteners, it has been the end result for many. The real need for some kind of sugar substitute was more the result of the need to provide something to better support the needs of those who are diabetic. The first artificial sweetener was on the market in the late 1800s.
Survival for Diabetics
In the past hundred years or so, there has been great progress made in the way of supporting the needs of diabetics. Before some of these things were developed, diabetes was a sure sentence to a limited life. The development of sugar substitutes began with Saccharin. It wasn't the best of things, but it gave an opportunity for those who needed something to have a chance to enjoy things they otherwise had to avoid. The artificial sweeteners that have been improved in the past few years taste much more like sugar, but there may still be some risks to health for some who use them. The bottom line is that they are a great substitute for those who need them the most, and that is diabetics.
Sweeteners for Diet
Many foods and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners state on the labels that they are not intended for weight loss. The second best benefit for using these sweeteners may be to protect the teeth. Bacteria that can cause tooth decay use sugar as a source of food. As a result, eating more foods containing high amounts of sugar can be a serious threat to the health of our teeth.
Managing Sugar Intake
Most of us who are not diabetic can safely use sugar if we will exercise reasonable self-control. Sugar itself may not be so bad, but consuming large amounts of it can do lots of damage. It is best to limit ourselves and clean our teeth properly after we eat something with high amounts of sugar. Some of us need to avoid artificial sweeteners because of some of the problems associated with it. It is a matter of using discretion and self-discipline.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.