Sweeteners: Worst to Best

[catwoman]

I will be seeing a naturopathic doctor for the first time this week, and in my quest to find one, I found a list on one doctor's website. It was a list of sweeteners, from worst to best. Thought I'd post it here:

11. Artificial Sweeteners (yep, your diet colas and sugar-free goodies contain the worst sweetener available for consumption. I've known this for years, though. These imposters are chemically derived or processed and should be taken out of anyone's diet who wants to be healthy. They are associated with neurological and mood disorders, weight GAIN, and changes in mental functioning).
10. High fructose corn syrup (found in most pancake syrups, soda pop, BBQ sauce, salad dressing...it's EVERYWHERE).
9. White Sugar (sucrose)
8. Evaporated cane sugar
7. Maple Syrup (we're talking the real deal - not Log Cabin or Butterworths - see High Fructose Corn Syrup above for Log Cabin and Butterworths main sweetener)
6. Honey (never give honey to an infant)
5. Blackstrap Molasses
4. Brown Rice Syrup
3. Xylitol
2. Stevia (This is actually a naturally sweet herb and is classified as a "supplement" instead of a sweetener)
1. Fruit (I found that adding bananas to my Grape Nuts cereal this week made it really sweet).

 

[meow]

Wow, HOney is actually #6!!?? I've always thought honey is good, or better, for you (even though you'll still gain weight or it's just not too good if it's too much of it).

 

[kimmie2191]

I actually use Stevia and like it very much. It does have a slight aftertaste though.
I usually mix half sugar and half stevia and then proceed to mix, bake or whatever I would use regular sugar in with no aftertaste.


Kim

 

[catwoman]

I just started using Stevia and used ONLY FOUR DROPS of extract in my tea (vs. a teaspoon of sugar) and thought it was too sweet. I guess I'll need to use only 2 or 3 drops!!

I went to Nature's Cupboard for my Stevia today and they were out of the jars of powdered Stevia. The owner is going to order some more, but in the meantime, I tried the extract. I'm wondering if I'll notice a big difference between the extract and the powder, but I had no aftertaste with the extract.

My dad has been using Stevia for a couple of years (he's the biochemist I've mentioned before on here...and he won't go near artificial sweeteners. He says you should just shoot yourself in the head if you're going to eat that poison. He used to work at Eli Lilly in the labs, and has worked for other pharmaceutical companies, and I trust him when it comes to knowing about this kind of stuff). At any rate, my dad said he used to use 12 rounded teaspoons of sugar to make his 3-quart pitcher of iced tea, and now he only uses 3 bb-sized scoops of Stevia. You know what a bb is, don't you? You know, as in the little round things that shoot out of a bb gun. I couldn't believe that when he told me! 3 bb-sized scoops of Stevia has the sweetening power of 12 rounded teaspoons of sugar!!!!! Holy cow!

 

[winsomehill]

What's xylitol?
Heather

 

[nancy324]

Good list, catwoman. IMHO, fruit is the only thing on that list that is actually good for you. All the others should be eaten in the smallest amounts possible.

-Nancy

 

[kathryn]

I don't see agave nectar on the list. It's a very good sweetener, made from the same cactus plant that tequila is made from. It's low glycemic and tastes similar to honey.

Date sugar (maybe fits in with "fruits"?) is good as well. Just made from dehyrated and ground dates. It adds a nice flavor to foods as well.

Where does Sucralose fit in here? I'd imagine with the artificial sweeteners. I'm surprised that so many people think it's healthy.

 

[autumn]

<I'm surprised that so many people think it's healthy.>

Me too. I am also surprised at the number of people who equate natural with safe. I hear from people and have read it here on these forums.

The internet is a great place to find information, but you have to know how to research. It is frightening, and there are so many willing to profit from our lack of information. I am thankful for those research courses I was FORCED to take.