sweeteners
In terms of nutritional value, sugar and corn syrup are roughly equal in that they have basically no nutritional value. High fructose corn syrup, however, has been found to be contaminated with mercury and should probably be avoided. Two sweeteners, black strap molasses and date sugar (just powdered whole dates), do actually have significant nutritional value. Most artificial sweeteners have been linked to health problems, at least in rare cases. Stevia appears to be harmless as long as you don’t consume too much.
Topic summary contributed by Denise.
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Watch videos about sweeteners
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Apple Juice May Be Worse Than Sugar WaterWhy the spike in antioxidant levels in our bloodstream after drinking apple juice might not be a good thing.
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Flesh and FructoseMeat and sugar increase uric acid levels, which are associated with increased risk of gout, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, kidney disease and cardiovascular..
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Unsweetening the DietAll sweeteners--natural and artificial, caloric and non-caloric—help maintain cravings for intensely sweet foods.
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Neurobiology of Artificial SweetenersThe disconnect between sweetness sensations coming from our tongue and the lack of a caloric feedback loop in the gut may result in overeating.
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How Diet Soda Could Make Us Gain WeightPeople consuming low calorie sweeteners may overcompensate by eating more than they otherwise would.
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Erythritol May Be a Sweet AntioxidantThe natural sweetener erythritol does not appear to carry the adverse effects associated with other low and non-caloric natural and artificial sweeteners and may actually have antioxidant potential.
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Diet Soda and Preterm BirthAspartame may be the reason that diet soda consumption during pregnancy has been linked to premature birth.
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Aspartame-Induced FibromyalgiaCase reports of fibromyalgia chronic pain sufferers cured by removing the artificial sweetener aspartame (Nutrasweet) from their diets.
