Sugar...

With how I eat now, I don't get a whole lot of sugar in my diet which is really good for me for a variety of reasons. For starters, I'm a diabetic and although I can eat sugar, it's just not how I like to use my carbs. Secondly, sugar isn't good for you! The more you eat sugar, the more you crave it. Sugar gives you energy, but too much sugar is quite unhealthy!!

Today's average American consumes approximately 2 - 3 pounds of sugar per week while at the end of the 19th century, the average American consumed approximately 5 pounds per year.

Simple sugars (sucrose, fructose, etc.) have been shown to contribute to and/or aggravate health problems, including; asthma, mood disorders, mental illness, nervous disorders, diabetes, heart disease, gallstones, hypertension and arthritis. Simple sugars are found a lot in soda and sweets. Additionally, high fructose corn syrup, another simple sugar, has been linked to Type II Diabetes and obesity. It has zero nutritional value and is high in calories so should be avoided.

The more sugar you eat, the more your body needs to make insulin to counteract it. For a diabetic this means you are either taking more insulin, medication or doing more exercise. With sugar raising insulin levels, insulin inhibits the release of growth hormones which depresses the immune system. Also, too much insulin promotes the storage of fat! Most people I know really don't want more fat! When you eat foods that are high in sugar, you are enabling your body to gain weight and elevate your triglyceride levels; both of which lead to cardiovascular disease.

Finally, sugar has no real nutritional value and as a result has a deteriorating effect on the endocrine system. Yeah, I'm sort of convinced that I don't want a whole lot of simple sugars in my diet.

So now you are wondering, well what do I use then? Many people choose to use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, sucralose or Splenda. However, more and more people don't trust artificial sweeteners and want to find healthy and natural alternatives. Fruit, fruit juice, honey, molasses, and maple syrup are natural options. Another, newer option has been introduced on the market recently and that is Stevia which is derived from a plant.

A recent find of mine has been something called agave; also called agave nectar or agave syrup. It is similar to honey, though sweeter and more runny. It is lower on the glycemic index (meaning it doesn't affect your blood sugar levels as much and cause your body to make more insulin) than many other natural sweeteners on the market and can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used to sweeten drinks, as a substitute in recipes for some desserts, poultry, meat and seafood. It also is a great topping on pancakes and waffles. It's seriously worth a try and I have found that Costco carries this and is rather affordable.

It's always good to do your own research and find options that work for you if you are interested in using less simple sugars in your diet.