Want to give up sugar in favor of substitutes? This will probably solve some of the problems sugar causes, but it's important to know about the other side of the coin.
Dr. Helga
Sweet, but not sugar
There are two types of substances that replace sugar. The first is sugar substitutes, which are close in structure to sugar, have a sweet taste, and are quite caloric, but they are digested more slowly than sugar, so they are safer and suitable for diabetics. The best-known sugar substitutes are:
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Fructose. Similar in calories to sugar, but the glycemic index (GI) is about 20. It is considered healthy because it's found in fruits and vegetables.
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Cons: It is essentially an isomer of glucose and in its pure form can be more harmful than sugar because it is processed by the liver into fat, increasing insulin resistance and the risk of diabetes.
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Sorbitol, maltitol, erythritol, xylitol. These are alcohols that are slightly less sweet than sugar. They are added to ...
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