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?

This disruption of our natural ability can lead to an increase in the number of calories that we consume.

This could explain why there has been an increase in sugar-free products and an increase in weight gain occurring at the same time.

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.

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 received bad publicity 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 sweetener 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. What does this mean for us?

A few drops in a cup of tea is more than sufficient because of the unusually sweetening power of Stevia. The FDA has banned the use of Stevia as a sweetener in products until it can be tested to its satisfaction. However, Stevia can be obtained in health food stores as a supplement.

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 sweeteners, balance is the key in all things consumed.

This article was written 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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