Sculpture of Sweetness

Sugar, a crystallized sculpture of sweetness. It is beautiful, comforting, and fulfills our sweet tooth's desires. No matter how much or how little it is processed or what chemicals are used to fabricate it; science has yet to make sugar and it's artificial substitutes, healthy.

These sweet ingredients have overtaken grocery isles...

...and our own cravings.

It is time to put them away, not the desserts and chocolates, but the forms of sugar that appeal to our taste-buds and yet are unappealing to our arteries and intestines.


ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

• Aspartame
  Marketed as: Equal, Nutrasweet, Canderel and Spoonful
  Potential side effects: short term memory loss, brain tumors, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, blurred vision, seizures, and convulsions.
  For more information on Aspartame read Dr. Mercolas extensive article Aspartame History of Fraud and Deception, http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/fraud.htm.
  

• Sucralose
  Marketed as: Splenda
  Contains 4 calories that can throw off dieting and people with diabetes.
  Potential side effects: skin rashes, diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, intestinal cramping, bladder issues, stomach pain, dizziness and numbness.
  

• Saccharin
  Marketed as: Sweet N Low
  Has a metallic taste and is carcinogenic.
  Potential side effects: bladder cancer.
  

• High Fructose Corn Syrup
  Made of a fructose that can only be digested in the liver
  Potential side effects: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

NATURAL SWEETENERS

• Refined White Sugar
  Refined sugar has no nutritional value. The body pulls essential nutrients like calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium to metabolize the sugar, which provides no nutrients in return.
  

• Brown Sugar
  Brown sugar is made with refined white sugar and processed molasses. Manufacturers add the molasses and it's nutrients back into the white sugar. Making it a healthier option to refined white sugar because of the nutrients in the molasses. However, it is still highly processed.
  

• Turbinado Sugar
  Marketed as: Sugar in the Raw
  Turbinado sugar has 4 fewer calories than refined white sugar because it contains moisture from molasses. Instead of adding molasses after processing it out,like brown sugar, turbinado is granulated in a turbine. This allows the sugar and the molasses to never be separated. While it is metabolized in your body the same as refined sugar it carries small amounts of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, mineral salts and iron. Therefore, Turbinado will not deplete these essential nutrients like refined sugar.
  

• Honey
  Honey has more calories than refined white sugar, but it also contains enzymes, soothes the throat, and a bit of local honey can help with pollen allergies. Be cautious it will raise your blood pressure higher than sugar.

• Agave
  Agave is a heather option and replaces honey, but some brands over-process agave making it the same as high fructose corn syrup, so brand research is important.

For the healthiest sweeteners try xylitol or stevia.

• Xylitol
  Xylitol is natural and is used by many dentists for its ability to reduce plaque on teeth and plaque in the body. However, it is expense averaging at $6 a pound; so I normally use it only in my tea and my husband's coffee.

• Stevia
  Researchers say it has zero calories, no influence on blood sugar or insulin, prevents cavities, and does not feed candida. Some say it has no aftertaste, but I find that the liquid form has a definite flavor and it is very easy to over use. So slowly add it to whatever you are making because it easily overpowers the taste-buds. Extremely expense ranging at the lowest end for 2 ounces of liquid stevia at $6 and powdered stevia ranges at $20 a pound.

Choose the healthiest options that fit your budget and make your masterpiece sweet to your tastebuds and your arteries!