Is Sugar Really that Bad?

Is sugar really that bad?

More sugar is consumed in North America than anywhere else in the world.  Sugar and the taste of sweet is extremely addictive. We feel and associate good things with sweets like birthdays, special occasions and rewards, but eating sugary foods everyday is one of the worst things we can do for our health. We know that eating sugar increases our risk of developing diabetes and heart disease, it decreases our immune systems’ ability to fight off infection, and it makes us gain weight rapidly because sugar quickly converts to fat in our bodies.

What about splenda/sucralose and aspartame?

Fake sugars are just that, fake. There is nothing natural or health enhancing about consuming these chemical sugars, our bodies barely know what to do with them and aspartame breaks down into formaldehyde—yikes! It is true that these sweeteners are much lower-calorie than sugar but that does not make them any better for us.

What can I have instead if I really really want something sweet?

There are few natural alternatives that give the sweet flavor without all the extra calories, just keep in mind that using these will not take away the sweet cravings.  

Xylitol and Stevia are two safe sweet options. Xylitol can be found at the health food store and can be used teaspoon for teaspoon for sugar.  With 100 times the sweetness of sugar, xylitol has a negligible effect on blood sugar levels. Stevia is a plant that is also hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, it may come as a powder or as a liquid and usually only a few drops are required to sweeten things up. Stevia brands vary in how they taste, some will have a strong licorice-like after taste so be aware and you may need to try a few different brands to find one you like. 

The only way to get rid of cravings for sweet is to go cold turkey; cut it out, and after about 3 days you won’t miss the sugar at all.