Description

Nonnutritive Sweeteners for Diabetes and Weight Loss

Refined sugar is a major source of empty calories in the standard American diet, especially in many beverages and baked goods. The two most essential aspects of weight loss involve some measure of caloric restriction and regular exercise. In particular, reducing sugar assists with weight loss because it reduces the glycemic response to food and offsets the signal to store fat that is caused by insulin (i.e. glycemic index).

The American Diabetes Association encourages patients with or at risk of diabetes to reduce their intake of refined sugar and carbohydrates, including sugar in foods and beverages. In particular, the 2013 statement on Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes recommends that “Individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes should be encouraged to limit their intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).”

Another report on dietary sugar intake by the American Heart Association recommended that “A prudent upper limit of intake is half of the discretionary calorie allowance, which for most American women is no more than 100 calories per day and for most American men is no more than 150 calories per day from added sugars.”

Unfortunately, the sugar substitutes (also called nonnutritive sweeteners) most often used are artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame (Equal^®, NutraSweet^®) and sucralose (Splenda^®). The long-term safety of such artificial sweeteners remains unproven. The safety of artificial sweeteners is sometimes glossed over by statements to the effect that they have passed FDA approval; however, Dr. Willett from the Harvard School of Public Health told Heartwire that “Many products initially approved by the FDA have later been found to have side effects and withdrawn, so approval is not a definitive indication of safety.”

Stevia Spoonable offers a naturally occurring and palatable alternative to artificial sweeteners, for use in tea/coffee and in baking.

Note: Suitable for diabetics.

Suggested Use

One (1) teaspoon of Stevia Spoonable equals the taste of two (2) teaspoons of regular sugar. Add to taste or as directed by your health-care practitioner.