What You Should Know About Artificial Sweeteners

Stevia Comes From The Stevia Plant - Photograph by Ethel Aardvark

 

photograph

Artificial sweeteners are generally much sweeter tasting than table sugar.  Consider this: Nutra Sweet (Aspartame) also marketed as Equal and Spoonful is 150 – 200X sweeter than sugar.  Splenda (Sucralose) is 488 – 800X as sweet, Sweet ‘n’ Low (Saccharin) is 300 – 500 X as sweet and Stevia – pronounced (STEE-vee-uh) (Stevicoside) is 300 times sweeter.  Many people use artificial sweeteners because they are diabetic or watching their waistline.  There have been many articles written and internet emails sent around the world that these sweeteners are not safe, but the US FDA has approved them for general consumption.

If you or someone you know has recently started having memory problems, forgetting basic things they shouldn’t like what to do when they come to a red light – whether it means go or stop for example then you should look into their Nutra Sweet consumption in addition to looking into medical issues.  Some people for some reason – it isn’t an allergic reaction – can’t seem to handle Nutra Sweet (Aspartame).  It affects their brain.  Perhaps they just started using Nutra Sweet (Aspartame) or they have increased their consumption because they are dieting.  Try going off the Nutra Sweet for several weeks to see if that was causing the problem, in addition to talking to a doctor.  If you are diabetic and can’t eat sugar then switch to another artificial sweetener during the trial period.

NOTE: If you have a rare genetic disorder called Phenylketonuria you should never use Nutra Sweet (Aspartame). Phenylketonuria is usually discovered at birth when the baby is given a blood test to detect the genetic disorder.  The person with this problem can’t break down the amino acid Phenylalanine which is in Nutra Sweet and certain foods.

Some people develop headaches or rashes from artificial sweeteners – again – in addition to seeking medical advice, try cutting back on the artificial sweeteners to see if it helps.

You  may also find that after awhile natural foods don’t taste sweet to you anymore.  That apple or grapes that used to taste sweet no longer taste sweet to you – that may be caused from the highly sweetened taste of the artificial sweeteners you now consume and have now become accustomed.

Blueberries, the Super Food

Blueberries - Improves Memory Too!

Blueberries are called a Super Food because they are stock full of antioxidants, phytonutrients (“nutrient from a plant”), polyphenols and anthocyanins.  These are big words – but most importantly – they mean that blueberries can do remarkable things for your body especially your brain.

Blueberries are a low glycemic fruit – which means that when you eat blueberries you don’t get a quick spike in your blood sugar. Low glycemic foods help with weight control and diabetes and can actually lower glucose levels.  Whether on a low carbohydrate diet or not, we all need to eat some carbs in order to live – our brains need carbs for energy.  Blueberries fit in perfectly with a low carb diet because they are low glycemic.  The glycemic index of a carbohydrate shows how quickly its consumption increases blood sugar levels. Values range from 1 (the slowest) to 100 (the fastest, the index of pure glucose). Fructose, (the sugar in fruits) has little effect on blood sugar.

You’ve probably noticed that blueberries are richly colored – a deep dark blue.  Research studies have shown that fruits and vegetables with the darkest colors are usually the best for you.  This means their skins have those super nutrients with the big names.

Blueberries reduce oxidative stress and some research has suggested blueberries can help prevent the sagging skin and bags as we age.  Reducing oxidative stress as we age can also help improve mental behavior, including the kind seen in senility.  Oxidative stress has been shown to be related to aging, cancer and Alzheimers. Blueberries have been shown in studies to improve cognitive performance, and some studies have shown a relationship with improvements in Alzheimers, although these are inconclusive and need additional study.  Studies have shown that blueberry juice can increase verbal memory performance in those with mild cognitive (memory) impairment and motor function.

Blueberries also increase neuronal communication in the brain.  Dementia is an increasing problem in the US and blueberries have been shown to improve memory in the older adult which includes word list recall and improved pair associate learning.  Blueberries also help the brain neurons from degenerating.

Rat studies have shown (in age equivalent of 70 in humans ) an improvement in balance and coordination.  This could help older Americans with the dangerous problem of falling.

The foods we eat affect our biological age – the way we look and feel.  So eat your blueberries.  Some people eat blueberries raw with nothing on them.  My favorite ways of eating blueberries are:  About 1/2 cup of blueberries (washed first with fruit/veggie wash & rinsed) is about 40 calories, then sprinkle a packet of Splenda or other sweetener on top and 2 tablespoons of whipped cream.  The whipped cream (Original Reddi Wip) only adds total fat of 1g, and less than 1 gram of carbohydrate. You could use any kind of whipped cream, just take a look at the fat and carbohydrate content first.  Another delicious way is 1/2 cup of washed and rinsed blueberries, add slices of bananas to taste, 1 packet of artificial sweetener and the whipped cream.  You could also mix some raw blueberries into vanilla yogurt – adding more healthful benefits to the yogurt.  These are delicious, healthy snacks, and also have the benefit of fiber.