The Word on Weightloss

A sprinkle over your strawberries, a spoonful in your morning coffee, zero calorie sweeteners have probably been a part of your diet since you started your weight loss program. We’ve all heard of aspartame, the dangerous chemical that some of these sweeteners contain and I’m here to reiterate why you should stop consuming these chemical sweeteners and sugars. But when you’re dieting what you use in their place to help satisfy your sweet tooth and still maintain a healthy weight loss?

Chemical sugars in your diet
First, aspartame was 'discovered' in 1965 by Searle, a drug company based in Chicago, Illinois. The FDA approved aspartame in 1981, even though scientific research had clearly shown that aspartame caused brain cancer in lab animals. The dangers of aspartame have been a well-guarded secret since the 1980s.

• Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that reduces the level of serotonin in the body and contains no ethanol or pectin, therefore the methanol is converted to formaldehyde and formic acid.

Do any of those chemicals sound like an appealing addition to your diet, over your strawberries or in your body? Incase you’re wondering Formaldehyde is used in hospitals to preserve cadavers. Do you really want that in your coffee?

So when you want to lose weight and stick to your weight loss program, what is a good alternative? The zero calorie sweeteners taste good and cut out the excess calories when dieting; in 2008, the sugar substitute stevia was recognized as safe in the US, though it has been available as a dietary supplement here since 1995. Stevia has been widely used in Japan since 1970 when saccharin was suspected of being a carcinogen. Today, stevia accounts for about 40 percent of Japan’s sweetener market.

Stevia has a really sweet pitch!

• Stevia contains zero calories, zero carbohydrates, and zero chance of a spike in blood sugar levels (glycemic index).
• Stevia, is actually a genus in a species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family native to tropical regions of western North America to South America.
• It is also cultivated in some parts of Asia.
• The stevia plant is commonly known as sweet leaf, sugarleaf or sweetleaf, (not the Black Sabbath hit).
• It is widely grown specifically for its naturally sweet leaves that when extracted can be hundreds of times sweeter than sugar.

Stevia’s sweetness kicks in more slowly but has a longer duration than sugar.

Is Stevia is safe to use in your weight loss program?
Stevia is a bit hit with fans of alternative medicine, since health food stores have long sold it as a dietary supplement. Many supporters of this sweetleaf tout all those zeros (zero calories, zero carbohydrates and a 0 on the glycemic index). Because it’s hardly noticeable on blood sugar and is a natural sweetener, stevia is attractive to people on low-carb or low-sugar diets. Scientific research currently shows that indeed, like most things, used in moderation, stevia is a safe sweetener. Until more research is done however, specific groups of people should avoid using stevia, especially women who are pregnant and people taking diabetes or blood pressure medications.  Always consult your physician before taking stevia or any dietary supplement.

The Taste Test
So how does stevia taste? Well, to find out I did my own taste test. Instead of adding brown sugar or natural maple syrup to my morning oatmeal, I tried stevia for the past week, and I’ve got to admit that it’s a delicious substitute for my two favorites. While I found it did take a bit longer for the “sweet” flavor to kick in, when it does it’s pretty good and lasts longer. Some articles report an aftertaste that is licorice or slightly minty, but I did not notice any of those flavors.

If you're considering trying stevia or taking it as a dietary supplement, make sure to check with your doctor about the dosage and the possible risks and benefits.