CentraState - Healthy Directions

FREE Glucose (Sugar) Screenings Every Monday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (some evenings and Saturdays available) The Novo Nordisk Diabetes Center at the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus To register, visit www.centrastate.com/events or call 732-308-0570. (Must be 17 or older and not previously diagnosed with diabetes. Fasting is recommended.) Aspartame Marketed as: Equal; NutraSweet 200x sweeter than sugar Source: synthesized Calories per serving: 4 Pros: The amino acids present in aspartame contain no carbohydrates or sugars, therefore, it has no effect on blood glucose. Aspartame is typically found in diet sodas. Cons: There have been some health controversies associated with aspartame. It is often thought to be cancer-causing, but there has never been a definitive study proving such a link. Aspartame can, however, cause headaches, dizziness, and even mood swings in those who are sensitive to it. Dr. Kroll's comment: Aspartame has been around for a long time. It does not raise your blood sugar but may raise your hunger levels, causing you to eat more. Saccharine Marketed as: Sweet 'N Low; Sugar Twin 300x sweeter than sugar Source: synthesized Calories per serving: 4 Pros: Its low-calorie, high-sweetness factors mean a little will go a long way, especially if you're dieting. Saccharine goes directly through the digestive system without being digested, and has no effect on blood glucose. Cons: Pregnant women should not consume saccharin because it has been shown to cross the placenta and remain in fetal tissue. Saccharine has been known to cause bladder cancer in lab mice, but there hasn't been a conclusive link established to any human cancer cases. It used to be listed as an "anticipated human carcinogen," but it was taken off that list 15 years ago. Dr. Kroll's comment: Saccharin is still subject to a lot of controversy about its carcinogenicity. Although it won't raise your blood sugar, it may have other effects on your metabolism, which could be dangerous. People with diabetes and other patients should limit this or eliminate it entirely. Stevia Marketed as: Stevia; Sweetleaf; Truvia; PureVia 60x sweeter than sugar Source: stevia plant Calories per serving: 0 Pros: Stevia is a naturally derived, zero-calorie sweetener that doesn't affect blood glucose levels. In reasonable doses, stevia poses no health risks, and is safe for pregnant women to use. Cons: Not quite as sweet as some of the other popular sugar substitutes. Some brands of stevia such as Truvia and PureVia are processed and therefore aren't "natural" by definition. Despite studies showing no health risk, stevia is also considered a dietary supplement, and therefore is not regulated by the FDA. Dr. Kroll's comment: This relatively new herb-derived sweetener is both sweet and does not raise your blood sugar. More studies need to be done about its safety. For now this seems to be a reasonable sugar substitute for people with diabetes and those looking to lower their carbohydrate and sugar consumption. Sucralose Marketed as: Splenda 600x sweeter than sugar Source: sugar/synthesized Calories per serving: 5 Pros: The big advantage of sucralose is that it is excellent for baking, so it can be used in many diabetic desserts (best in its commercially available granulated form). It is by far the sweetest of the sweeteners, so you don't need to use much of it as a replacement for sugar. Unlike other sweeteners on this list, sucralose is derived from sugar, yet it doesn't affect blood glucose levels. It's considered one of the safest sugar alternatives, according to studies. Be mindful, however, that using artificial sweeteners in cooking or baking does not always reduce the calories or total carbohydrate content of the product. Cons: Splenda contains bulking agents that can inflate calorie counts up to 12 per serving. Sucralose is also a relatively new sweetener, so more long-term studies are necessary to truly ascertain any health risks to humans. Dr. Kroll's comment: This substitute is safe for people with diabetes but needs longer-term studies. Blood sugar levels in a glucose challenge test are higher in people who have ingested sucralose beforehand, which could cause a false reading. www.centrastate.com Winter 2016 15

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