Artificial Sugar Isn’t Such a Sweet Idea

We all know that sugar is not really your friend when you are trying to lose weight or maintain a certain weight.  Natural sugars are acceptable as long as they are consumed in moderation.  If too much natural sugar, even organic cane sugar, is added to a product, though, it becomes unhealthy.  So, when we refer to natural sugar we are talking about sugar that occurs naturally within foods like the sugar that fruits contain, not natural sugar that is added to food.

Artificial Sweetener

Many people have been deceived over the years by all the long, fancy names for artificial sugar, not even realizing what they are putting into their bodies.  They may look at a label and not see the word “sugar” and assume it is safe to eat.  This is not the case.  Artificial sugars are never better for you than real sugar.

Types of Artificial Sugars

The artificial sugar that is probably most recognizable and used the most is high fructose corn syrup.  There is debate as to whether or not these artificial sweeteners are carcinogenic (cancer-causing), and the research is ongoing because it has not been determined yet.  A recent study using mice has shown that there is the possibility of high fructose corn syrup being linked to cancer, particularly colorectal cancer.

Why would anyone want to risk getting cancer simply because they feel like drinking sugary drinks frequently?  The trade-off is NOT worth it!  There are artificial sweeteners other than high fructose corn syrup, such as aspartame and sucralose.  These artificial sweeteners are often packaged in happy colors and names that don’t seem dangerous like Equal and Splenda.  These sweeteners are not equal to sugar, nor are they splendid for your body!  Equal is made of sucralose and Splenda is made of aspartame.  These sweeteners do not occur naturally in nature and are not to be considered “good for you.”

Read the Labels

So, what should you do?  These artificial sweeteners, particularly high fructose corn syrup, are found in many of our food items.  READ THE LABELS!  We can’t stress this enough.  Look for those words they use to trick you – high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, aspartame.  Stay clear of these as much as possible.  It is virtually impossible to eat a completely sugar-free diet, so here are a couple of tips regarding your sugar intake.  Real sugar is better than manufactured, “fake” sugar.

The amount of sugar you take in is key when it comes to losing or maintaining weight.  Men should have no more than 36 grams of sugar per day.  Women should have no more than 25 grams of sugar per day.  Again, we are talking about sugar added to your food, not the natural sugar occurring in the plum that you just ate.  If, however, you have diabetes, then you will need to be more mindful of ALL sugars, even naturally occurring sugars, as they can affect your blood sugar.  But, fruit IS a healthy part of a well-balanced diet for everyone, including those with diabetes.  Just remember that in all food groups, moderation is essential for your weight and overall health.

Understand the Difference

Understanding the difference between real and artificial sugar and how much sugar intake you should have per day are essential parts of your weight loss or weight maintenance.  However, sometimes it just isn’t enough, especially if you are battling obesity.  This is where we would like to step in and help you with your weight loss journey.

At Advanced Surgical and Weight Loss Institute of Merritt Island, we specialize in rapid weight loss and a variety of safe, effective bariatric surgeries and weight loss programs in Melbourne, FL.  We also utilize the daVinci robotic surgery method when possible.  This allows us to use a minimally invasive procedure for your bariatric surgery providing you with an easier, faster recovery so that you can really begin your rapid weight loss journey.  We are located in Merritt Island and are proud to serve the residents of Brevard County and the surrounding areas.  Please call us today as we truly look forward to helping you!