America has a problem with sugar. The sweet, crystalline substance is in most of the foods we eat. As a result, the average American swallows about 22 teaspoons of sugar each and every day! According to the American Heart Association, that kind of consumption can be harmful to our health.
The current guidelines state that women should be getting no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day and men should limit themselves to 9 teaspoons. That's only 100 to 150 calories per day in added sugar, compared to the current average of 355 calories. Why do we eat so much?
The jury is still out on whether or not sugar is addictive. But what we can say for certain is that it makes things taste better. Sugar is used as a flavor enhancer in everything from breads to canned foods. Shoppers should examine the labels of their favorite foods to make sure they do not consume more sugar than they need.
Healthy Desserts : Why is it bad for us?
As with all things, sugar is fine in moderation. But too much of it can adversely affect our health. Nutritionists define sugar as an easily digested refined carbohydrate. In other words, it adds calories quickly and requires virtually no effort or energy to break down. Sugar also does not satisfy us on a cellular level. Folks can drink hundreds of calories of sugary sodas without batting an eye and ask for more in an hour. They cannot, however, do the same with denser, tougher foods that take more time to digest, like meats or vegetables.
Sugar is also bad for our teeth. Yes, your dentist was right! The bacteria in dental plaque use the sugars in foods to produce acids that can damage tooth enamel and lead to cavities. Even if you brush after every meal, which almost no one does, you can still get cavities if you eat too much sugar.
Healthy Desserts : What can we do?
As we said, sugar is a popular ingredient in all sorts of foods. Because it is cheap and possibly addictive, food makers use it as a taste enhancer in items that were formerly sugar-free. The only way to keep track of your daily sugar intake is to be vigilant. You must read the labels of everything you eat. There should be a measurement for "sugars" on each label. If the count is too high, seek a substitute.
Healthy Desserts : Substitute sweets?
There are certain foods we expect to be absolutely loaded with sugars-ice cream, candy, cookies, cakes, chocolate, etc. These foods are almost pure sugar, which is acceptable in moderation. We "treat" ourselves to treats on special occasions. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations give us the excuse we need to indulge a bit. Unfortunately, Americans are indulging far too frequently these days.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two-thirds of American adults are either overweight or obese. Could this have anything to do with the 24 pounds of candy they consume each year?
Most candies are pure sugar. In fact, the name comes from a Sanskrit word that means "piece of sugar." Even though it is undoubtedly more popular with kids, adults still eat their fair share of candy. They buy candy bars, chocolates, jelly beans, and peanut butter cups on a regular basis. The only problem is that they can't burn off the sugar like they did when they were young. These extra calories are stored almost immediately as adipose tissue, i.e., fat. That is, unless the candy lover switches to sugar-free sweets.
It sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? Sugar-free sweets? But the truth is that most of these low-calories treats are indistinguishable from the originals. How do they do it? Just like diet sodas, sugar-free candies contain artificial sweetners instead of sugar.
Healthy Desserts : Are they healthy?
As a general rule, no candy is healthy. But the sugar-free variety contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than their predecessors. They also will not cause your blood sugar to spike, which makes them safe for people with diabetes.
Healthy Desserts : What is available?
Not all candies can be faithfully reproduced using artificial sweeteners. Some old standbys require sugar to make them taste authentic. Candy makers have come a long way when it comes to sugar-free chocolates in recent years. They have produced varieties that taste almost exactly like the originals. The online candy vendors we have visited offer sugar-free chocolate covered raisins, peanuts, and bars. They also sell sugar-free gummy bears and gumballs. A top seller with adults, sugar-free malt balls are sold in bulk quantities.
