Tag: sweets

Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe?

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What are artificial sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are better known as sugar substitutes. Better yet we can say products that state they are “sugar free”. We definitely see that a lot in our grocery stores and sometimes we think that sugar free is better which may not always be the case because some are not actually natural and are still processed made sugars.

Normally when we use a sweetener we are stopping ourselves from reaching for the good ole granulated sugar that normally get. People go for artificial sweeteners because they do not add calories to your diet and you can use less of it because it provides that sweetness faster than table sugar does. Another plus of using artificial sweeteners is that they do not cause tooth decay and cavities like granulated table does. Also it is a better alternative for those with diabetes and for those trying to lose weight

because they do not raise your blood sugar (carbohydrates).

The FDA regulates the use of artificial sweeteners and it is considered an food additive. So the FDA approves all artificial sweeteners before you see them on grocery shelves.

So whats the 411 on these sweeteners?

Aside the from artificial sweeteners we also have novel sweeteners and sugar alcohols which I just recently learned a little more about. One of the big novel sweeteners that we all have heard about is Stevia and as for sugar alcohols they are still considered carbohydrates because they are naturally found in some fruits and vegetables. Sugar alcohols is not like an alcoholic drink because it doesn’t contain ethanol but it does contain calories. Sugar alcohols do have a laxative effect when consumed in large amounts so you must keep that in mind.

The biggest talk when it comes to these sweeteners is that it is said that they can cause cancer but research has been done and for the most part most of these sweeteners have not been found to be harmful. The most important thing when it comes to sugar is how much of it do you consume and use on a daily basis and this determines how it will effect your health. Moderation is key when it comes to using sugar and moderation is key when it comes to nutrition.

Examples of Natural Sweeteners:

  • Honey
  • Molasses 
  • Agave 
  • Coconut sugar
  • Maple Syrup

Examples of Novel Sweeteners :

  • Stevia

Examples of Sugar Alcohols:

  • Xylitol
  • Erythritol

FDA Approved Artificial Sugars:

  • Sunett
  • Equal
  • Splenda
  • Sugaree
  • Sweet ‘N Low

Why is sugar so bad? Sugar is not your friend

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Well guys , it is the holidays and Christmas is literally less than four days away Whew! I know with everything that has been happening in 2020 we are looking forward to the holidays. One thing some of us look forward to is having our SWEETS! Yes I said it SWEETS. For most of us it all really starts with Thanksgiving, and we are not usually working on our summer bodies at this time. I always have a sweet and a lot of the time I have to remind myself to get that under control and not go overboard. With that being said now I will let you know all the reasons why sugar is not your friend:

1. Too much sugar consumption leaves the door open for many diseases and disorders

2.  Too much sugar in diet can cause you to crash and feel sluggish

3. Too much sugar in the diet opens the avenue to Type 2 Diabetes due to an excess in sugar in the body can lead to insulin resistance

4. More prone to cancer

5.Weight Gain

6. Heart Disease

7. Arthrosclerosis and so much more

Now that you know why sugar is not your friend , how are you going to work on limiting it in your diet? To start always read your nutritional facts label that is where you will find out how much sugar is in your food. Also keep in mind if a food item is more than one serving and you eat more than one you will consume more sugar per serving. Try other alternatives to sweetening your food such as honey, agave, and stevia. I’ve even heard now that there is coconut sugar ! It is recommended that men should have 37 grams or 9 teaspoons of sugar a day while women can have 25 grams or 6 teaspoons of sugar a day according to the American Heart Association. Now that is not a lot so you can see why controlling our sugar cravings is so important. Make sure this holiday not to splurge to much sweets but also enjoy what can in moderation. Happy Holidays! Stay Safe

Check out my Youtube Video on why Sugar is not your friend

Watch Now!

How Do You Handle Your Sweet Tooth on Valentine’s Day

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Happy Valentine’s Day! Picture Credit: Me!

Now we all love sweets, at least most of us get a sweet tooth from time to time. Now for someone like me who has Acid Reflux when it comes to those Valentine’s Day chocolates, I definitely cannot have the whole box in one day. Maybe more like one piece of chocolate a week lol. So the question is how can we still enjoy sweets without consuming too much sugar and calories?

First to start do not overdo it! Whether you get one box of chocolate or many different sweets do not eat it all in one sitting! Whew! Second, try looking for sweets that are vegan! Now they still contain sugar of course but the ingredients in vegan sweets will be a lot healthier and not contain high fructose corn syrup which we know is like the number one sugar enemy. High fructose corn syrup is used in so many food products including wheat bread that you may think is 100 percent healthy, always read your nutrition facts labels they are there for a reason. 

Third try looking for sweets that are organic which will have much better ingredients but again it does not mean it does not contain sugar. Fourth, you can go completely sugar-free and look for sweets. I have tried many things that are sugar-free such as sugar-free cakes, sugar-free ice creams, and sugar-free chocolates and they still taste good! Lastly, if you are good at baking in the kitchen you can bake your own sweets that way you get to control how much sugar you use in your recipe. 

When it comes to sugar in the diet, it should always be in moderation. Really when it comes to sugar consumption for Males the total amount for one day should only be about 37.5 grams of sugar and for females 25 grams of sugar per day (According to the American Heart Association). Now we all know that most of the time we go over those recommendations. 
As I always teach to anyone that I coach we have to have certain things in moderation and sugar is most certainly one of those things.

Here is a list of a few things I have tried out:

Breyers Sugar-Free Vanilla Ice Cream

Breyers Non- Dairy Peanut Butter Flavor Ice Cream

Pillsbury Sugar-Free Yellow Cake Mix

Healthy Foods Healthy Foods

There are many sugar-free sweets you can purchase through Amazon if you can not find them in your local supermarkets such as sugar- free Reese’s and Hersey candies

Some of my favorite vegan brands are:

Enjoy Life

Lenny and Larry’s

Nature’s Bakery

Happy Valentine’s Day!