CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier - LiveWell

Artifi cial INTELLIGENCE Don't Sugarcoat It It may be tempting to turn to artifi cial sweeteners when trying to reduce the amount of sugar and calories in your diet. While they taste sweet and have few or no calories, there may be more to artifi cial sweeteners than meets the nutrition label. Six artifi cial sweeteners — saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame and advantame — are approved for consumption in the United States. Research in the '70s linked saccharin to bladder cancer, pushing the industry to fi nd alternatives for diet drinks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aspartame in 1981 and sucraloseˆinˆ1999. While all are deemed "generally safe" by the FDA, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis found that daily consumption of diet drinks increased the risk for metabolic syndrome — the onset of heart attack risk factors including obesity and Type 2 diabetes — by 36 percent and the risk of Typeˆ2 diabetes by 67 percent when compared to those who did not consume artifi cial sweeteners. Need an alternative? Water is the safest and healthiest non- caloric beverage. Infuse a glass with apple or strawberry slices for a sweettaste. Americans are consuming as many as 30 teaspoons of sugar a day, according to the American Heart Association. The problem is that consuming too much sugar can lead to health issues such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, there are healthier, more natural ways to sweeten things up a little. BL ACKSTR AP MOL ASSES Unlike white sugar and corn syrup, which lack any nutrients, molasses includes minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. DATE SUGAR Made from pulverized dried dates, this sugar is a very healthy alternative that's even sweeter than regular cane sugar. However, its inability to melt and blend doesn't make it a seamless replacement. HONEY Honey provides vitamins, minerals and, of course, a sweet taste. With 21‚calories per teaspoon, compared with 16 calories for table sugar, honey is sweeter and more dense, so you can use less. The Dish on Taking control of diabetes is a task best undertaken as a team. Whether a patient has already been diagnosed with diabetes or has been diagnosed with prediabetes, CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier's American‚Diabetes Association-approved diabetes education program is an important resource for staying healthy. The staŽ partners with patients to help them take hold of their own health. "Self-management education is an essential component of diabetes treatment, and it is our mission to empower patients with the most up- to-date knowledge to take control of the disease and avoid unnecessary complications," says Jennifer Callicoatte, M.S., RD, LDN, CNSC, clinical program manager of clinical nutrition, bariatrics and diabetes with CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier. "To fully focus on our patients and tailor the program to their needs, we oŽer one-on-one sessions for patients that cover a variety of topics, including exercise, nutrition and management of chronic complications." Are you ready to take control of your diabetes? Ask your physician to call (318)681-5413 and schedule a consultation. Managing Diabetes Fall 2016 | christushealthsb.org EATING WELL 11

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