Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - 0 Comments
By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer
There is quite a bit of confusion when it comes to sugar and sugar substitutes. Do sugar substitutes help you lose weight? They do have fewer calories. Are they safe? The internet is flooded with horror stories of the dangerous chemicals that occur in these synthetic sweeteners.
We sat down with eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pam Ofstein to get answers to the tough questions about these sugar alternatives.
Are sugar substitutes a safe?
"Certain sugar substitutes have been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration," Pam says. "Artificial sweeteners are regulated as food additives and those that are approved are termed as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). According to the FDA, to date there is no scientific data to support not using GRAS approved sweeteners."
Who should use sugar substitutes?
"Sweeteners have been useful for people with diabetes and to assist in weight loss, but there have also been studies that have shown that artificial sweeteners can cause weight gain," says Pam. "The verdict is still out on how effective they are for overall weight loss."
Would you recommend sugar substitutes over real sugar?
"Sugar substitutes can have their place in weight loss, but I recommend limiting sweeteners and opting for whole, natural sugars whenever possible," says Pam. "Avoiding processed foods and sticking with foods that contain the sugars they were born with is the healthiest option."
"Fruits for example, contain fructose, a low-glycemic sugar that is naturally occurring. In addition, fruit also contains fiber -- something that you won't get from a packet of sugar or a synthetic sweetener."
Refined white sugar and even brown sugar -- which is just white sugar with molasses -- can be replaced with natural sweeteners like fruit juice or honey, according to Pam, who ultimately recommends not overindulging your sweet tooth in any form.
Make sure you practice saccharine safety when sweetening your coffee or tea. And remember: Eating foods in their most natural form -- and in moderation -- is the best way to stay healthy.
Have a diet question for Pam? Email askthedietitian@ediets.com and check back to see if your question is picked! And if you missed a previous column, click here to see the archive.
Find the perfect diet to fit your lifestyle! Fill out our FREE profile and let us help you reach your weight-loss goals.
Pamela Ofstein, eDiets Director of Nutrition, is a registered and licensed dietitian responsible for the development, design and implementation of eDiets nutritional components, including product offerings, nutrition programs and media publicity. She received her B.S. in Food and Nutrition from Florida State University and M.S. in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University. Leading a team of nutrition professionals, she continues to widen and enhance eDiets.com personalized services setting the standards to provide credible information to consumers.
Staff Writer
There is quite a bit of confusion when it comes to sugar and sugar substitutes. Do sugar substitutes help you lose weight? They do have fewer calories. Are they safe? The internet is flooded with horror stories of the dangerous chemicals that occur in these synthetic sweeteners.
We sat down with eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pam Ofstein to get answers to the tough questions about these sugar alternatives.
Are sugar substitutes a safe?
"Certain sugar substitutes have been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration," Pam says. "Artificial sweeteners are regulated as food additives and those that are approved are termed as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). According to the FDA, to date there is no scientific data to support not using GRAS approved sweeteners."
Who should use sugar substitutes?
"Sweeteners have been useful for people with diabetes and to assist in weight loss, but there have also been studies that have shown that artificial sweeteners can cause weight gain," says Pam. "The verdict is still out on how effective they are for overall weight loss."
Would you recommend sugar substitutes over real sugar?
"Sugar substitutes can have their place in weight loss, but I recommend limiting sweeteners and opting for whole, natural sugars whenever possible," says Pam. "Avoiding processed foods and sticking with foods that contain the sugars they were born with is the healthiest option."
"Fruits for example, contain fructose, a low-glycemic sugar that is naturally occurring. In addition, fruit also contains fiber -- something that you won't get from a packet of sugar or a synthetic sweetener."
Refined white sugar and even brown sugar -- which is just white sugar with molasses -- can be replaced with natural sweeteners like fruit juice or honey, according to Pam, who ultimately recommends not overindulging your sweet tooth in any form.
Make sure you practice saccharine safety when sweetening your coffee or tea. And remember: Eating foods in their most natural form -- and in moderation -- is the best way to stay healthy.
Have a diet question for Pam? Email askthedietitian@ediets.com and check back to see if your question is picked! And if you missed a previous column, click here to see the archive.
Find the perfect diet to fit your lifestyle! Fill out our FREE profile and let us help you reach your weight-loss goals.
Pamela Ofstein, eDiets Director of Nutrition, is a registered and licensed dietitian responsible for the development, design and implementation of eDiets nutritional components, including product offerings, nutrition programs and media publicity. She received her B.S. in Food and Nutrition from Florida State University and M.S. in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University. Leading a team of nutrition professionals, she continues to widen and enhance eDiets.com personalized services setting the standards to provide credible information to consumers.
Labels: diet help, diets, fat loss, health foods, healthy, healthy foods, healthy-living, honey, sugar, sugar-substitute, sweetener, sweets
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