Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/745881
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 sucralose¤in¤1999. 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 Type¤2 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 sweetˆtaste. 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. Make sense of "too much information." T.M.I. AND If you have diabetes, keeping up with new and changing nutritional advice can sometimes feel overwhelming. Navigating a wide range of options and opinions can make it di…cult to decide what's best for you. The great news is you don't have to go it alone. CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Diabetes Center is dedicated to improving quality of life for people living with diabetes and its complications. In addition to individualized nutrition counseling, the center o¢ers consultation, resources and a monthly support group covering a range of diabetes-related concerns. CHRISTUS St.Vincent Regional Diabetes Center (505) 913-4307 Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 465 St. Michael's Drive, Suite 101 Santa Fe, NM 87505 Call or visit us today: Diabetes, Nutrition Fall 2016 | st vin.org EATING WELL 11