FitSugar

A Buyer’s Guide to Sugar Substitutes: The good, the bad and the unacceptable

tdsollog — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:11:19 -0700

A Buyer’s Guide to Sugar Substitutes
The good, the bad and the unacceptable.
By Sylvia Geiger, M.S., R.D., EatingWell.com
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/diabetes/articlepage.aspx?cp-documen...

According to a recent survey, seven out of 10 adults say they want to reduce or avoid added sugars. To do so, they’re turning to sweeteners that deliver zero or minimal calories. Data from Mintel, a market research group in Chicago, shows that while sales of caloric sweeteners like sugar have been declining in recent years, sales of "diet"-friendly substitutes have skyrocketed, increasing by about 50 percent from 2000 to 2006. And since 66 percent of Americans are overweight and 20.8 million have diabetes, even many health experts are advocating the use of these sugar substitutes.

Bittersweet History

Interest in no-calorie sweeteners isn’t new. Saccharin, the first, premiered in 1879. Its slightly bitter taste and poor performance in the kitchen didn’t bother people with diabetes or dieters: they now could enjoy sweets. Unfortunately, after the safety testing of food additives was federally mandated in 1958, saccharin was shown to cause cancer in animals. In 1977, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to ban it. But public outcry kept it on the market, albeit with a newly mandated health warning. In 2000, the National Toxicology Program concluded that saccharin did not increase cancer risk in humans and Congress revoked the rule requiring the disclaimer.

"The public should feel confident that any approved sweetener is truly safe and has been closely scrutinized," says Manfred Kroger, Ph.D., professor emeritus of food science at Penn State. And most food scientists agree.

But the saccharin-cancer connection has left many skeptical of artificial sweeteners. Some public health advocates say that the FDA’s food-additive approval process-in which an ingredient’s manufacturer is responsible for demonstrating its safety-is biased and too lax. For years, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a Washington, D.C.-based consumer watchdog group, has advised consumers to avoid saccharin, Ace-K, an artificial sweetener approved by the FDA in 1998, and even aspartame, after a 2007 study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives showed increased incidence of cancer in rats with long-term exposure to it. However, a recent review of aspartame in Critical Reviews in Toxicology concludes that there is no evidence to support its association with cancer.

And, despite CSPI’s warnings, its executive director, Michael Jacobson, acknowledges, "The risk that any individual will develop cancer as a consequence of consuming aspartame is very low. But when millions of people are routinely consuming [a variety of ingredients that may pose a slight risk], the overall risk of cancer may become very significant."

The Reassuring Scoop

Sucralose, the newest artificial sweetener, hasn’t raised red flags with CSPI. And those wary of anything "artificial" now can choose from several "natural" options: xylitol and erythritol, sugar alcohols long used in foods marketed to people with diabetes. (Stevia, also touted as "natural," is sold as a dietary supplement because it hasn’t received FDA approval.)

But safe doesn’t necessarily mean tasty-or even acceptable. How do these sweet substitutes stack up? We put some of the most popular ones to the test (in beverages and "sugar" cookies).

Sucralose (Splenda)

Sold as a "tabletop sweetener" (packets used mostly to sweeten beverages)

Commonly added to packaged foods and beverages

Heat-stable; can be used for baking

What is it? A compound made by combining sucrose (table sugar) with three chlorine molecules. The body doesn’t digest or derive calories from sucralose.

Sweetness factor: 600 x sugar

Take note: There has been legal controversy over the Splenda slogan, "Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar." Critics claim it falsely implies that the substitute-which was approved as an additive by the FDA in 1998-is natural, which it is not.

Our taste test: Tasters found Splenda pleasantly sweet in hot and cold teas, but some noted an objectionable metallic aftertaste. Cookies made with Splenda rated well for sweetness but poorly for texture, appearance and aftertaste. However, Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking, which is a 50/50 blend of sugar and sucralose, rated better on all counts.

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal)

Sold as a "tabletop sweetener" (packets used mostly to sweeten beverages)

Commonly added to packaged foods and beverages

What is it? A compound made by combining two amino acids- phenylalanine and aspartic acid-with a methyl ester that becomes methanol, a by-product of carbohydrate fermentation. FDA-approved in 1981, aspartame is digested but because such small amounts are used to sweeten foods, its calories are negligible.

Sweetness factor: 180 x sugar

Take note: People with a rare condition known as phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot break down phenylalanine, so it can accumulate to toxic levels; thus, people with PKU must avoid all foods containing phenylalanine, including aspartame.

Our taste test: Some tasters found it to have a nice level of sweetness in hot and cold tea; others called it too sweet and "fake" tasting. Most detected a bitter aftertaste.

Saccharin (Sweet’N Low, Sweet Twin)

Sold as a "tabletop sweetener" (packets used mostly to sweeten beverages)

Commonly added to packaged foods and beverages

What is it? A compound containing sulfur and nitrogen that provides no calories because the body cannot break it down.

Sweetness factor: 300 x sugar

Take note: Saccharin, first discovered in 1879, has a long, controversial history. The FDA re-approved saccharin for limited use as a food additive (in beverages and some processed foods) in 2000.

Our taste test: All but one taster rated it as "unpleasantly sweet." Most commented that, in tea-hot and cold-saccharin tasted "artificial" and had a bitter aftertaste.

Xylitol (XyloSweet)

Sold as a "tabletop sweetener" (packets used mostly to sweeten beverages)

Heat-stable; can be used for baking

What is it? Chemically classified as a sugar alcohol, xylitol’s chemical structure resembles both sugar and alcohol but isn’t a true form of either. Since xylitol is a naturally occurring food compound, it is "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) by the FDA and, therefore, exempt from the approval process mandatory for artificial substitutes regulated as food additives.

Sweetness factor: Same as sugar

Take note: The body absorbs xylitol but not fully-that’s why the sweetener provides 2 calories per serving and also why it causes digestive problems for some people. People trying to control glucose levels shouldn’t eat foods containing xylitol with abandon. The American Diabetes Association advises people with diabetes to count half of sugar alcohol grams as carbohydrates. Studies show that xylitol, which is often added to gums and mints, may also help reduce cavities by reducing acid in the mouth. Xylitol is very toxic to dogs.

Our taste test: Tasters rated the sweetness level as "very acceptable" with only a few detecting a mild, yet not unpleasant, aftertaste in hot and cold tea. The sweetness rated well in baked cookies but most described the appearance and texture of the cookies as unappealing and too soft.

Erythritol (ZSweet, Sun Crystals)

Sold as a "tabletop sweetener" (packets used mostly to sweeten beverages)

Commonly added to packaged foods and beverages

Heat-stable; can be used for baking

What is it? Naturally found in melons and pears, erythritol is another sugar alcohol. The body fully absorbs erythritol (unlike xylitol) but can’t break it down, so it provides (virtually) no calories and does not produce a glycemic response.

Sweetness factor: 60 to 80 percent as sweet as sugar

Take note: Because it’s absorbed, erythritol is less likely to cause gastric distress than xylitol. In Sun Crystals, erythritol is combined with cane sugar for a product that delivers 4 calories per teaspoon and registers a slight glycemic response.

Our taste test: In hot and cold tea, ZSweet and Sun Crystals earned good to excellent sweetness scores. Cookies baked with ZSweet received poor scores for texture and appearance and had mixed ratings for overall sweetness. Tasters also noted an unexpected cool sensation when eating the cookies. Sun Crystals is not currently available in a baking product.

Stevia (SweetLeaf Stevia Plus, OnlySweet)

Sold as a "tabletop sweetener" (packets used mostly to sweeten beverages)

Commonly added to packaged foods and beverages

Heat-stable; can be used for baking

What is it? A concentrated powder made by extracting a sweet-tasting compound-steviol glycosides-from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a plant native to South America. Commercially, stevia is sold as a liquid or a powder that is combined with bulking agents: often inulin, a soluble fiber, or maltodextrin, a sugar.

Sweetness factor: 300 x sugar

Take note: Since the FDA has not approved its use as a food additive, stevia is sold only as a dietary supplement in the United States. However, in the interest of launching a line of "natural" diet drinks next year, the Coca-Cola Company and Cargill are expected to petition the FDA to re-examine the safety science on stevia. Stevia itself does not raise blood sugar-neither does inulin-but maltodextrin does, so people concerned about blood glucose levels should read ingredient labels carefully.

Our taste test: The overall sweetness of stevia rated well in hot and cold tea, but most detected an unpleasant aftertaste that one taster described as "corroded tin can." The sweetness, texture and appearance of the cookies sweetened with stevia were "unacceptable."

Anne Hathaway douses herself in perfume to get into character

justingirl1989 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:27:08 -0700

I’m kind of torn about actress Anne Hathaway, 25. She has been wearing daring, gorgeous outfits that make her look like a rare jewel. She has a very unique exotic look that’s borderline geeky and not cookie cutter at all. There’s something contrived about her, though, and she plays it so safe and saccharine sweet in interviews that you wonder what she’s really like and if she has a personality behind her giant eyes and wide mouth. Her latest interview, with UK’s Hello!, is kind of eyeroll-inducing in that she gives such bland, non-committal responses that sound practiced and trite. She’s smart though, and seems to be trying to maintain control over her public image.

The only interesting thing she said in the interview is that she uses so much perfume on set that it bothers her castmates. I hate when people do that, and too much perfume can give me a headache. I knew there was a reason she got on my nerves. Hathaway is talking to Hello! to promote a new perfume she’s endorsing for Lancome. She also says that she’s a fan of Amy Winehouse and enjoys reading and hiking:

Anne, you’ve achieved so much success in such a short time. How has it changed your life?
“It’s been a change for the good, and at times a change for the worse. Success at a young age can make you cautious. During a time most people are tying to find themselves, I was always hyper-aware of responsibilities. It’s nothing to really complain about; it’s just the reality.”

You are famous for trying to keep your private life private. Why is that?
“That’s definitely my choice. I don’t ever want to be described as a personality. There are people who enjoy the spotlight and having their picture taken, but I’m really not one of them. If I don’t have something to talk about that I’m proud of, it makes me uncomfortable to receive that kind of attention… I believe in privacy.”

What do you do in your spare time between films?
“I love hiking - to escape into the open air gives me such a sense of freedom. I love nature and so it’s always relaxing to disconnect in the middle of nowhere. Reading is something I enjoy very much as it also helps me relax and reading is a way of traveling in your mind. And listening to Amy Winehouse. Her voice is incredible and she had the wonderful ability to revisit classic blues with so much modernity.”

I understand that sometimes you use scent as a way into a character
“Absolutely. For me, scent is very important for my characters. I don’t feel like I’ve found them unless a few elements are in place and one of them is their fragrance. I played one character and her scent was lavender for the entire film. I think everyone was happy when the movie wrapped!”

[From Hello! Magazine, print edition, October 14, 2008]

I wouldn’t say Hathaway is famous for valuing her privacy. She dragged her conman boyfriend around to many events and was even photographed giving him a faux-BJ on a boat for the nearby paparazzi. She does get it right when she says she doesn’t “want to be described as a personality.” How would you describe her then? Well dressed? Prompt? Beautiful?

Hathaway also says she’s a tomboy who always loved to act, and calls Brokeback Mountain her favorite film to have worked on and says “it’s as perfect a movie as can be made.”

Did Anne’s scent overpower you? She’s a great actress but it’s hard to tell who she is exactly. She’s got her look going for her at least.

http://www.celeb*tchy.com/14661/anne_hathaway_douses_herself_in_perfume_...

Movie Review: Enchanted

Whiplash — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:03:08 -0800

2007
Written by Bill Kelly
Directed by Kevin Lima
Starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel and Susan Sarandon

I was pretty down all weekend and wanted a fluffy little pick-me-up so I went to see Enchanted yesterday morning. I'm glad I did. It's definitely not the type of movie I pay to see but it was uplifting and very cute.

Enchanted is the story of Giselle (Adams), a typical animated Disney heroine who meets and falls in love with Prince Edward of Andalasia (Marsden). But his evil stepmother Narissa (Sarandon) is Queen of Andalasia and will lose the throne if Edward gets married, so she magically sends Giselle into modern day New York City.

Edward follows her in order to find her, and Narissa sends her bumbling henchman (Spall) to stop Edward. Along for the ride is Pip, Giselle's best friend who is, in traditional Disney fashion, a chipmunk.

In NYC, a scared Giselle meets Robert (Dempsey), a logical and methodical divorce lawyer with a small daughter named Morgan and a girlfriend named Nancy (Menzel) who he's about to propose to. Robert and Morgan help Giselle out and soon enough she's entangled in their lives.

And then Giselle teaches Robert that life IS special and romantic, and Robert teaches Giselle that love isn't as magical as she believes. Meanwhile, narcissistic Edward is trying to find Giselle, oblivious that Nathaniel is trying to kill her with three poison apples the queen conjured.

I expected this movie to be more of a satire, a little bit more bitingly funny, instead of as saccharine sweet as it was. But I really enjoyed it all the same. Amy Adams was amazing as Giselle, she just threw herself into this ridiculous character. And James Marsden (who I always thought I hated but it turns out I just hated his Cyclops character in the X-Men movies) was silly and impressive as well.

I was kind of bored by Patrick Dempsey (and I've always considered McDreamy merely McAverage) and there was a big flashy special effects scene near the end that kind of annoyed me, but all in all, this was a great pick me up, and just what I needed. Little girls will love this movie, too.

Forget Oprah's Fav Things, Here's Mine...

daneen924 — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 23:35:49 -0800

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve undoubtedly heard about Oprah’s Favorite Things of 2007 list. Though Oprah made some fine choices, I have one recommendation for the media mogul.

If I had a list, I’d call it ‘The D-List’ (original, I know) - and everything on it would be from Jaqua’s Buttercream Frosting line of products. I’ve been using the Buttercream Frosting Exfoliating Body Polish, Shower Crème, and Hand Crème for a couple of weeks, and my enthusiasm has not waned. In fact, my fondness grows stronger every day. Not only do the Buttercream Frosting products pamper my parched skin, they smell like heaven - a sweet tooth’s version of heaven, anyway.

Like vanilla frosting with a hint of fresh strawberries, Jaqua's Buttercream Frosting products smell so much like the real thing, I have to remind myself that they're not edibile. I can only hope that Jaqua is developing hair care, shaving cream, toothpaste, anti-perspirant, and contact lens solution…so that every square inch of me can smell saccharinely sweet.

And while you’re on the Jaqua website, sign up to become a Jaqua VIP (no purchase necessary, and it’s free). Be the first to find out about new Jaqua products, special discounts and best of all, freebie offers only available to Jaqua VIP members.

Stevia: The Miracle Sweetener

emilyplayscello — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:43:43 -0700

I'm sure you've heard me mention stevia in past entries. Now it's time to really talk about it.

Stevia (also known as SweetLeaf) is an extract from the stevia plant found in South and Central America. It's available in both liquid and powdered forms. The extract is about 300 times sweeter than sugar (although you cannot purchase the pure extract; it's usually combined with vegetable glyercine or inulin fiber).

What makes this sweetener so unique is that it has a 0 on the glycemic index, meaning it doesn't raise blood sugar levels the way that honey, molasses, brown sugar, cane sugar, fructose, or any other sweetener does. Many people opt for Agave nectar as a natural sweetener, but agave still raises blood sugar levels and has about 16 grams of sugar per tablespoon. Because stevia is just an extract and not a nectar or syrup, it has 0 grams of sugar but still tastes incredibly sweet. And, because it has no sugar, it also has no calories.

Stevia is perfect for diabetics, low-carbers, those with candidiasis, or anyone limiting their sugar intake (which should be everyone if you ask me!). It is available at most health food stores and more easily found as a liquid (near the supplements).

I almost always buy stevia in liquid form. It only takes about two drops to sweeten anything!

My Personal Most Popular Uses for Liquid Stevia:
I use a few drops to sweeten...
- kasha or oatmeal
- cold cereal
- hot tea
- water with lemon
- plain yogurt

Stevia is also available as a powder, which I use for cooking. I bake whole-wheat, almond meal, oatmeal cookies using stevia as a sweetener and they're delicious.

Get creative. You can sweeten anything with stevia, and it's much healthier to buy unsweetened versions of your favorite products and sweeten them yourself with stevia. Stevia cannot be found in most commercial products because the FDA hasn't approved its use yet (which is why it must be purchased as a supplement). There is great political debate on this topic. Many people feel that the FDA is strongly controlled by major food corporations that advocate the use of harmful sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose. The introduction of stevia to the main market would undoubtably cause a major conflict for the companies using other sweeteners because stevia has virtually no adverse health affects. Japan has been safely using stevia to sweeten their diet beverages for a number of years.

Stevia is 100% natural and in my opinion, the ideal sweetener. Try it for yourself and see!

Be sweet,
Emily