Sugar is the number one enemy of fat loss. When we're trying to lose weight, we need to eliminate sugar from our diets. This is no longer a secret. Sugar is loaded with empty calories, how it causes digestive problems, and how when we eat sugar, it causes huge insulin spikes that send our bodies into fat-storing mode, making it feel impossible to lose any weight. But the solution to this problem seema much simpler than it really is. Because it sounds like you can just replace sugar with artificial sweeteners like Splenda and Equal, and you'll magically become slim and sexy. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
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Just because something is "sugar-free" doesn't mean it won't make you fat. Artificial sweeteners come with their own share of problems. First, the jury is still out on their long-term safety. While the companies that sell these products are quick to point out studies promoting their safety, they often leave out the studies showing their dangers.
For example, one study has shown that Sucralose (the sweetener used in Splenda) can cause lesions in our liver and kidneys. It can cause intestinal problems by altering the pH levels of the body. It has also been linked to trigger migraine headaches.
When you consider these potential side effects, it doesn't exactly seem like the safe alternative to sugar companies claim, now does it?
And these are just the health concerns.I haven't even mentioned how these sweeteners cause us to gain weight yet. Artificial sweeteners trick our bodies with their sweet taste. When we consume them, signals are sent to our brai letting it know that sugar is on the way. Our brain then sends this signal out of the rest of our body, preparing it for the "sugar rush" it expects. But since these sweeteners aren't real sugar, we never feel that rush. We're left with strong cravings for the sugar we've never received. These cravings can be unbearable and cause us to binge on sweet foods–a recipe for disaster when trying to eat healthy.
So if table sugar is terrible for us and artificial sweeteners come with their lineup of problems what should we do when we find ourselves wanting something sweet to snack on? Well, there are healthy natural sweeteners out there we can use to satisfy these cravings. Here are some of the best options:
Stevia: This natural sweetener comes from a plant In South America. It's calorie-free and doesn't affect your body's blood sugar or insulin levels. It's also 300 times sweeter than table sugar, so a little bit really goes a long way in sweetening your foods.
Organic honey: One of nature's miracles, honey is known for its amazing health-boosting properties. It is shown to have natural anti-bacterial properties. It's also a low-glycemic carbohydrate, which means it doesn't cause those fat-storing insulin spikes.
Maple sugar flakes: This little-known sweet is made out of dehydrated maple syrup and is a great alternative to sugar. At only 8 calories per serving, they taste much like regular maple syrup and can allow you to add taste to your foods with the harmful rise in blood sugar levels.
By sticking to these natural sweeteners, you're able to satisfy your cravings without "tricking your body" and without opening yourself up to potentially dangerous side effects later on. Use them to replace the sugar in your diet and watch the pounds and inches begin to melt away.
This post was originally published on June 3, 2016.
Image via iStock
