Artificial Sweeteners vs. Stevia

In the last twenty-five years, artificial sweeteners have become a way of life for most Americans. However, if this is such a good thing, why has obesity dramatically increased during the same time period?

The increase in sugar-free products in the past two decades has correlated with an increase in weight gain among Americans, which has occured during the same time period.

The availability of foods with artificial sweetening agents have actually led to an increase in the number of calories that we consume. The most popular of these sweetening agents include:

Splenda is sucralose that substitutes chlorine in the final molecule. There have been reports of stomach cramps and diarrhea after ingesting large amounts. Saccharin and Aspartame have also been cited over the years for health-related risks.

All of these artificial sweeteners are approved by the FDA. Most of our processed foods that say "sugar-free" on the label contain one of these sweeteners. The more we consume processed foods that are "sugar-free," the more artificial agents we are ingesting.

How much is too much? A Purdue University study that appeared in the July 2004 issue of the International Journal of Obesity found that using artificial sweeteners may disrupt the body’s natural ability to count calories.

An alternative to these manufactured sweeteners is a natural product called Stevia, a sweet tasting herb that is native to Paraguay. It has been used in Japan for over 20 years with no adverse side effects. Its sweetness is naturally concentrated.

A few drops in a cup of tea is more than sufficient because of the unusually sweetening power of Stevia. A form of Stevia is also available in powdered, single-servings that can be purchased from grocery stores.

Common sense should tell us that in order to have an effective weight management lifestyle, we need to reduce our consumption of processed foods - even though that may be sugar-free. While Stevia may be a viable alternative to other forms of artificial sweetening agents, balance is the key in all things consumed.

Source: Content for this article by Constance Weygandt, a balance mentor who specializes in finding answers for those seeking an alternative to conventional weight management. For more information, visit www.balancedwellnessonline.com.

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