Why Sugar and Sugar Substitutes Can Make Us Ill
It is not news that sugar and sugar substitutes can make us ill.
Sugar and their substitutes are available in many forms, and not all are obvious. It is much healthier to use natural sweeteners both in beverages and in food.
Sugar and sugar substitutes have negative side effects on our bodies such as obesity and allergies, and can lead to sugar crashes.
What’s Wrong with Sugar and Sugar Substitutes?
Sugar is a very addictive additive to food and beverages. Sugar can provide our bodies with energy, but it can also lead to crashes if sugar levels are not maintained. This is why people who drink energy drinks usually do not feel well after the energy drink wears off. Sugar levels plummet as the body digests the drink and causes our body to feel exhausted.
Sugar can cause headaches if the body is deprived of it cold turkey. This also happens frequently with coffee or any other caffeinated drink. Sugar, in large quantities, can also lead to obesity. Because of the addictive quality of sugar, it is possible for a person to ingest enough of it on a regular basis to cause significant weight gain.
Sugar substitutes are usually said to aid in weight loss as they are “low-sugar” alternatives. Sugar substitutes are chemically created and chemicals of any sort are typically not well received by the body. Chemicals can cause headaches, migraines and other long-lasting side effects. Other reactions include bloating and diarrhea.
Popular Sugar Substitutes
Some of the most popular sugar substitutes are chemically created and contain aspartame, which has been linked to several health issues including headaches, seizures, hearing loss, vision problems and vertigo to mention a few.
Splenda is a substitute that has a synthetic make-up similar to that of sucrose. Splenda is one of the only sweeteners actually made from sugar. The sweetener is low in calories but is not actually sugar despite the fact that it is made from sugar.
Sweet n Low is comprised of saccharin. Saccharin was previously banned by the FDA, but is now no longer banned. It has been linked to cancer in lab animals but studies have yet to prove a link between saccharin and cancer in humans.
Equal and Nutrasweet both contain aspartame. Aspartame contains almost no calories which makes it an attractive sugar substitute. It does, however, have numerous side effects, many of which have been documented: headaches, dizziness, cramps and diarrhea. Aspartame can also be found in many diet sodas in addition to being available in Equal and Nutrasweet.
Sugar and sugar substitutes linked to many medical symptoms and illnesses. Sugar is a very addictive substance and can cause the body to crash if the sugar level is not maintained. Sugar can also cause obesity if it is consumed on a regular basis in large quantities.
Most sugar substitutes are artificially created and may contain saccharin and aspartame, both of which may have negative side effects. To keep your body healthy, sugar and sugar substitutes are best avoided, if possible. If it is not possible to avoid the items, it is a good idea to only consume them on a minimal basis.
Natural Alternatives to Sugar
A little sugar is sometimes necessary. You can’t deny that sugar makes food taste good. Fruits and vegetables have naturally occurring sugars that make them more palatable to us so we willingly eat them and inevitably ingest all the vitamins and minerals they contain.
When you need to sweeten food, the best option is to use natural alternatives, such as stevia, which comes from a plant, is calorie-free, and doesn’t cause tooth decay.
Other natural sweeteners can also be a good choice. These include maple syrup, brown rice syrup, agave, and other sweeteners. These are better than refined sugar, because they still contain traces of vitamins and minerals, and usually don’t cause as much of a spike in our blood sugar as refined sugar does.
However, as with sugar, you need to use these natural sweeteners sparingly. These do contain sugars and calories, and can cause cavities and other negative effects of sugar, if taken in large amounts.
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