AVOID
· Erythritol – often added to Stevia in products like Truvia, can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, and is now considered unsafe.
·
Sucralose –
found in Splenda, caused cancer in mice and may boost blood sugar.
·
Aspartame – is
found in some low-calorie yogurts, soft drinks, and other products. Current
evidence indicates that it is a carcinogen.
·
Acesulfame potassium – found in some low-calorie ice-cream products and low-calorie flavored
waters, may increase cancer risk. You should skip this product especially if
you are breast feeding.
Considered SAFE
·
Stevia – look
for Stevia leaf extract, or Stevia in the raw
·
Monk fruit extract – appears to be safe, but more research is needed
·
Allulose – is
safe but may cause GI problems in sensitive people
A few
important points:
·
Don’t
give low-calorie sweeteners to children because they haven’t been tested in
kids.
·
Adults
who switched from sugary to diet drinks lost more weight.
·
There
is no good evidence that artificial sweeteners lead to more cravings for sugary
foods.
· We don’t know yet how artificial sweeteners may affect our gut microbiome.
I eat foods
that have been sweetened with monk fruit extract and Stevia. If my oatmeal
seems like it needs a little more sweetness, a packet of Stevia in the Raw will
do the trick. You should always read product labels and skip anything with
sucralose, aspartame, erythritol, or acesulfame potassium.
Here’s to
your sweet health! _Lisa
