Originally published July 31 2005
Healthy sugar alternatives exist to satisfy the sweet tooth
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Healthier alternatives to sugar include molasses and the plant-derived sweetener stevia; both of which can be found in health food stores.
Sucrose, or table sugar, is correlated with weight gain and so is fructose.
Both sucrose (table sugar from sugar cane or sugar beets) and fructose (fruit sugar that has been concentrated and dried down into crystals that resemble sugar) are correlated with liver stress.
A recent article in Nutrition Metabolism contained an article citing a connection between the advent of the obesity epidemic and the introduction of high fructose corn syrup into the food supply.
An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association described how the higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a more weight gain and increased risk for development of type 2 diabetes in women, because of the excess calories and rapidly absorbable sugars.
Some experts claim sugar gives you a high that over-stimulates your adrenal glands, but then puts you into a low that makes you feel fatigued, fuzzy-headed and desperate for your next sugar fix.
Two natural sweeteners, stevia and molasses are both better alternative sweeteners to sucrose or fructose.
Stevia is a natural plant glycoside that has been used as a sweetener in Japan for more than 20 years.
You can put a few drops in a high-protein drink or cup of tea or use it to cook with.
Numerous studies have shown it lowers blood pressure, treats diabetes (in animals), has no side effects, is well-tolerated, is well-suited for people with diabetes and PKU, as well as anyone who is trying to lose weight.
Animal studies show it may even inhibit skin tumors.
You can buy stevia at health food stores.
It has a sweet, slightly iron taste.
One study showed that molasses increases the HDL cholesterol that protects against heart disease.
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