Sugar Substitutes—What’s Safe and What’s Not

• Sugar substitutes can be divided into four general categories: artificial sweetener, sugar alcohols, natural sweeteners, and dietary supplements such as Stevia and Lo Han
• Artificial sweeteners can actually be far worse for you than sugar and fructose, and scientific evidence backs up that conclusion
• Furthermore, numerous studies show they increase weight gain and worsen insulin sensitivity to a greater degree than sugar
• Natural sweeteners such as honey and agave may seem like a healthier choice, but not only are they loaded with fructose, many are also highly processed
• In moderation, some sugar alcohols can be a better choice than highly refined sugar, fructose or artificial sweeteners. Of the various sugar alcohols, xylitol is one of the best. When it is pure, the potential side effects are minimal
• Three of the best sugar substitutes are all-natural Stevia from the whole plant, Lo Han Guo, and dextrose (pure glucose). Contrary to fructose, glucose can be used directly by every cell in your body and as such is a far safer sugar alternative
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• Read more: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/10/07/sugar-substitutes.aspx?e_cid=20131007Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20131007Z1