Over the course of a year, my average daily intake of sugar was relatively low. But I suspect that the occasional blasts of sugar were still doing my body harm.
I read ingredients and stay away from artificial sweeteners, even those authorities claim are "safe". I trust myself to look after my own best interests.
Ever heard of "stevia"? It is naturally sweet. Notice I did not say it was a "natural sweetener". From Wikipedia:
"In the United States, it is legal to import, grow, sell, and consume stevia products if contained within or labeled for use as a dietary supplement, but not as a food additive. Stevia has also been approved as a dietary supplement in Australia, New Zealand[13] and Canada." [emphasis mine]
Why try to prevent use of stevia as a food additive? Well, among other things, whole industries are built around sugar... Again, I trust myself to look after my own best interests.
I have been getting my stevia from Down To Earth. I prefer it in a bottle in liquid form. I put a few drops in cold water, sometimes in coffee - as a "dietary supplement" of course
. At first, the taste seemed a bit off but, of course, sugar is sugar, stevia is stevia. If you expect the taste of sugar, you will be disappointed. I actually found an unexpected benefit to the taste difference...I have gotten so used stevia's natural sweetness that sugar no longer tastes as good as it used to. Too much sugar, and I find it disagreeable. I recently bought what used to be my favorite banana cream pie. I put the usual ample slice on my dish and began to eat... I did not enjoy the taste somehow... The sweetness seemed a bit off. I finished the slice, but ended up tossing out the rest of the pie. Waste of money? Well, the money was already spent, on something of dubious nutritional benefit, on something which is actually harmful to many people. The waste came at the point of purchase, not disposal. I just won't do it again...
Life still deserves a little sweetness now and then. Isn't gradually becoming accustomed to healthier alternatives a better way?
Raymond T. Kaya
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
www.reikialoha.com/raymond