FitSugar

A Reader Asks: Do Artificial Sweeteners Cause Migraines?

Fit Community — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:50:07 PST

The Sugar Community assistant has a question that she hopes you can shed some light on. She posted the following question in the Healthy Recipe community group.

I know artificial sweeteners aren't the best, but from time to time, I enjoy a little in my coffee. This morning, as I mixed it in my cup of joe, a stranger commented on my choice. He explained to me that it has been known to cause migraines. I told him that I have yet to receive any. He said that I probably will get one huge migraine to make up for the ones I haven't been receiving. Is this stranger bluffing, or do I have a gigantic migraine to look out for? Help!

Do you have a nagging question that needs answering? Ask our community to help!

Weigh In: Dr. Oz's 28-Day Soda Quitting Plan

Michele Bell — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:30:50 PDT

When it comes to medical opinions, it's sometimes wise to get a second one, which is what I am asking of you, oh wise FitSugar readers. A fan of Dr. Oz, I watched his show the other day where he mapped out a 28-day plan to rid one of his audience members of her 12-sodas-a-day drinking habit. A cola junkie, she seemed excited about their plan to walk away from the bubbly drinks, but I'm just not sure I'm buying his month-long program.

Curious to see what it is?

Think You Know Your Sweeteners?

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:30:52 PDT

I am trying my darnedest to drink my tea without any sugar or sugar substitutes, but I can't lie - it ain't easy. I've always been a big fan of raw sugar, while others soak up the artificial sweeteners. While they all seem fairly equal (har, har), I do wonder if people know the differences between the vast selection. Come take my quiz and see how well you know your sweeteners!

Take the Quiz

How Bad Is That Diet Coke?

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:00:00 PDT

Confession: I have a handful of dirty little secrets when it comes to my health and fitness. One of them is that I harbor a serious Diet Coke addiction. I've been known to have a regular two cans on a weekday, partially for the caffeine jolt, and partially because I like the taste (I know, I know).

Recent studies have shown that even diet versions of popular sodas aren't good for you, and can lead to obesity. I've even heard them described as "chemical water with a little caffeine." I recently noticed that after drinking more than one Diet Coke during the day, I've started getting dull headaches. After one too many DC-induced headaches, I switched my second soda of the day to a caffeine-free Diet 7-Up hoping that would stop the problem, but it did just the opposite - the headaches got worse. To see what I think is causing them and what other problems my Diet Coke habit may be causing,

I remembered reading about the artificial sweetener aspartame and potential side effects in the past; turns out the sweetener - better known as Nutra-Sweet - is found in most diet sodas, including Diet 7-Up. While the FDA's acceptable intake of aspartame is the amount found in about four cans of soda (yikes!), a sensitivity to the sweetener can cause other side effects: headaches, dizziness, mood changes, and even skin reactions. In addition, soda consumption has been linked to lower bone density, since it can block your bones' absorption of calcium. Plus, if you're drinking a soda, you're choosing not to drink something else - a glass of water, juice, or anything with actual health benefits.

While the satisfying sound of a fresh can of Diet Coke popping open will probably always cause a reaction, I'm better off switching to an afternoon iced coffee. Besides being a great caffeine fix, it's full of benefits, from antioxidants that lower disease risk to helping to ease post-workout muscle pain.

Source: Flickr User Svadilfari

Food Review: Truvia Sweetener

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:45:33 PDT

Artificial sweeteners often have a weird aftertaste or suspect ingredients. One alternative is stevia, a calorie-free sweetener extracted from a sweet herb grown in South America. But until recently, there were questions about whether stevia was safe, and the varieties I've tried have a different kind of weird aftertaste - not chemical or artificial, but sort of herbal, almost like anise. I prefer my sweeteners a bit more neutral.

But I just got my hands on some Truvia and decided to give stevia another shot. Recently, this brand became the first stevia sweetener not labeled as a "dietary supplement." It's sold online in individual packets, each of which is equal in sweetness to two teaspoons of sugar. To find out how sweet it is,

According to Truvia's website, this product is made from rebiana, an ingredient made from the sweetest parts of the stevia leaf. The leaf is then purified, which may explain why Truvia tastes better than any other stevia I've tried. Though it still has a slight aftertaste, I didn't notice it until I got to the very bottom of my coffee cup. It wasn't overly sweet, and it didn't interfere with my coffee's flavor.

The only thing that bugs me is that rebiana is actually an ingredient created by Cargill in a lab, so it's hard to know how natural it really is. So I still don't know if stevia has won me over; as a sugar substitute, I still prefer agave nectar. But if you're looking for a zero calorie sweetener, Truvia definitely tastes better than the other stevia I've sprinkled into my coffee and tea.

Artificially, Naturally Sweet News

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT

This one goes out to all the stevia lovers.

The stevia-based sweetener Truvia is now for sale online. Previously, other stevia sweeteners have been labeled as "dietary supplements," but Truvia has the distinction of being known as a zero-calorie sweetener. Because it is derived from an herb, it is considered "natural." I am not sure how I feel about that label.

Developed by Cargill in partnership with Coca-Cola, Truvia will be used in a handful of Coke products. Rumor has it that Pepsi is working on a zero calorie stevia sweetener of its own. Let the cola wars begin.

If you live in NYC, you can sample Truvia at Rockefeller Center today. I haven't tried it, but I'm sure I will soon. Even though I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners, I am curious.

If you have tried Truvia tell me what you think in the comment section below.

Source

Artificial Sweeteners Explained

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:30:00 PDT

I have a huge sweet tooth and I'm not afraid to admit it. I tend to go for treats made with real sugar, but I know many people watching their calorie intake like to go for sugar substitutes (so they can have their cake and not wear it too).

There are so many artificial sweeteners out there, it's hard to keep them straight. Here's a list of some of the most popular ones.

Type of Artificial Sweetener	General Info	Pros	Cons
Sucralose (Splenda)	Contains maltodextrin to bulk it up It's 600 times sweeter than regular sugar.	Has zero calories. You can bake with it. After 110 studies, the FDA concluded that sucralose has no toxic or carcinogenic effects, and poses no reproductive or neurological risks to people.	The bulking agents add about 12 calories per tablespoon of Splenda (although the nutritional info doesn't list these calories. Adds an artificial taste when you bake with it.

Want to see the rest of the list? Then

Saccharin (Sweet'N Low)	It's 300 times sweeter than regular sugar. Is a molecule made from petroleum. The FDA proposed a ban on it in 1977 when lab rats that were fed huge amounts contracted bladder cancer. The ban was never enacted though, and the warning label was dropped in 2000.	Has zero calories. You can bake with it.	Since 1981, government reports list it as an "anticipated human carcinogen." Male smokers may be at risk of cancer if they consume large amounts. Little studies have been done regarding its effects on children, so they should consume it in small quantities, or not at all. Pregnant women are advised to use saccharin sparingly.
Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal)	It's 180 to 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. 70 percent of all aspartame is used in sodas. The FDA has set the acceptable daily intake (ADI) at 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. That translates to about four (12 oz.) cans of diet soda per day (that's a lot of soda).	One gram of aspartame contains 4 calories. In 1996, the FDA approved its use in foods and beverages. It's approved for consumption by pregnant women, as long as they follow the FDA's guidelines.	You can't bake with it. Some people may have a sensitivity to aspartame, and may experience headaches, dizziness, mood changes, or skin reactions after consuming it.
Acesulfame-K (Sunette or Sweet One)	It's 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. The body can't break it down, so it's excreted from the body unchanged.	It has zero calories. It's approved by the FDA. It doesn't increase the risk of cancer, or affect blood-sugar levels. You can bake with it. It's approved for consumption by pregnant women, as long as they follow the FDA's guidelines.	It has a bitter taste on its own. The consumer group, Center for Science in the Public Interest, believes that studies on this sweetener were poorly done and didn't test its potential cancer-causing risks.
Sorbitol, Mannitol	These are sugar alcohols that occur naturally in fruits, and are commercially made for use as sweeteners.	FDA has designated them as "Generally Recognized As Safe." They're absorbed slowly.	Some parts of these aren't absorbed at all, so consuming these in large quantities may cause diarrhea. This laxative effect can happen if you consume more than 49 grams of sorbitol, or more than 19 grams of manitol.

Fit's Tips: After hearing all those bad things about sugar substitutes, and knowing that one packet of real sugar contains only 11 calories, I think I'll stick to the sugar. What about you?

Source

Artificial Sweetener May Make You Gain?

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:45:00 PST

If you're a fan of artificial sweeteners for weight loss then you may want to rethink it before you tear open a packet.

New research has found that saccharin altered the ability of rats to control their appetites. Why? Well apparently it is based on the subconscious. For most of us, a sweet taste is a sign that calories are on their way. The problem comes in when sweetness is not followed by calories. This can lead to confusion in the body's digestive system, and the metabolism rate may not gear up as much the next time sweetness is tasted. The result is that over time our bodies may learn to not expect much in terms of getting calories from sweet foods, leading us to consume more and more, artificial or not.

The semigood news? The head of an artificial sweetener trade group dismissed such claims, saying they don't translate to human behavior. Hum.

Me, I've never been a fan of artificial sweeteners for many reasons (mainly taste) but this just adds to my list of reasons to avoid them. What about you guys - do you regularly eat artificial sweeteners?

Source

Artificial Sweeteners Not So Sweet for Your Health

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:30:00 PDT

A while back, I told you the odd news that diet soda can make you fat. Nine months ago, the researchers did not know why there was a connection between pounds gained and diet soda consumed. Now new research indicates the cause is that your gut can't tell the difference between real sugar and artificial sweetener. Our intestines actually have taste receptors for the sweetness of glucose. Artificial sweeteners are engineered so well that they trigger the same taste receptors in the small intestine that glucose does, releasing hormones that absorb sugar into the bloodstream as well as regulate appetite and insulin production. Read more about the study in our Gut Has Taste Receptors: Mount Sinai Researchers Identify Link to Obesity and Diabetes.

So you might skip the next best thing to sugar and go for the sugar itself. In moderation; of course.

Source

Our (Yummy, Guilt-Free) Lunch With Jillian Michaels

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:16:25 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Ever wish you had a personal chef to deliver diet-friendly meals right to your home? Us, too! That’s why we had to catch up with Jillian Michaels at her recent event at the W Residences in Hollywood to get the skinny on her new partnership with Freshology, a food delivery program that brings gourmet, calorie-controlled meals straight to your door.

"I've been wanting to get involved with something like this for a long time, but either the food sucked or it was packed with unhealthy preservatives," says Michaels. "It's not just calories - the quality of the food matters when it comes to health and weight loss, which is why I really clicked with the Freshology's commitment to fresh, clean food."

Teaming up with Freshology’s five-star chef, Michaels used her nutrition principles to create a total weight-loss plan that delivers healthy, wholesome, and delicious food with no preservatives, no hormones, no artificial sweeteners, and no trans fats. On the program, you’ll receive a twice-weekly delivery stocked with daily meals totaling 1,400 to 1,800 calories: breakfast (240 to 475 calories), lunch (230 to 470 calories), dinner (303 to 536 calories), and a dessert. The 28-day rotation ensures you’ll never experience taste bud boredom. And all the food is precooked, chilled, and ready to go, so at the very most, all you have to do is zap it in the microwave. For added "thinspiration," you’ll also get Michaels’s fitness DVDs, texts to keep you motivated, and a copy of her book, Master Your Metabolism.

Keep reading to see if Freshology passed our taste test.