Ramadan 10th, 1429
A POISON CALLED SUGAR!

As I mentioned last week, Ramadan is the best time to cleanse your body and fasting a great opportunity for us to get rid of addictions and any unhealthy habit. One of the most dangerous habit and addiction in our life today is SUGAR. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, premature aging, obesity, tooth and gum decay, stomach problems, mental disturbances and many other physical and mental problems.

it is a sad fact that 95% of people are addicted to this poison called “Sugar” to some degree or other! The average person now consumes approximately 115 lb. of sugar per year, this is per man, woman and child!

If you examine the “foods” in any supermarket more closely and start reading labels, you will find just about everything contains sugar. Most of the foods are loaded with it – from cereals, to soups, to ketchup, to hot dogs, candy, chocolate, sodas, soft drink, sport drinks, even baby’s formula and baby food.

Lets first understand what is Sugar.
Sugar is a white unnatural substance produced by industrial processes (mostly from sugar cane or sugar beets) by refining it down to pure sucrose, after stripping away all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes and other beneficial nutrients. What is left is a concentrated unnatural substance, which the human body is not able to handle. 

Is Sugar addictive?
Yes! Sugar is an addictive drug, it is pure chemical (like heroin) through refining it has been stripped of all the natural food nutrition that it originally had in the plant itself. Heroin and sugar are arrived at by very similar processes of refinement. 

In producing heroin, the opium is first extracted from the poppy: The opium is then refined into morphine. The chemists then went to work on morphine and further refined it into heroin. 
Similarly, sugar is first pressed as a juice from the cane (or beet) and refined into molasses. Then it is refined into brown sugar, and finally into strange white crystals, that are an alien chemical to the human system.

Sugar is also habit forming. Starting with sugar in the baby’s formula, people not only develop a strong taste for sugar but an insatiable craving for it so that they never seem to get enough of this poison.

Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. 

What sugar can do to you?
Sugar metabolize into acid, acid will go to the weakest point of your body and settle in there. Acid start to eat your muscles and bones.
It is strong enough to make a hole in your teeth, imagine what it will do to your muscles and skin tissue.
Increases hyperactivity in children.
It causes a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
Food allergies. 
Learning disorders.
High blood pressure
Gum disease.
Increases PMS symptoms.
Increase anxiety and panics in women.
East Candida grow in sugar environment in your blood.
The leading cause of dental deterioration – cavities in teeth, bleeding gums, failure of bone structure, and loss of teeth.
It is the main cause of diabetes, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
It is a significant cause of heart disease, arteriosclerosis, mental illness, depression, senility, hypertension, and cancer.
Increases chronic fatigue.
Increases anxiety and irritability.
Parkinson’s disease.
It can increase the size of your liver and the amount of liver fat.
kidney stones.
Sugar can damage your pancreas.
Depression.
Increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
It can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.

These are just some of known ones.

If you think sugar is bad, there is worth… Aspartame (an artificial sweetener) is even much worth.

Many people, especially diabetics are under the impression that Artificial sweeteners are healthy alternatives for sugar. This is far a way from the truth, and sadly even some doctors promote these products! Such as NutraSweet, Equal, Sweet’N Low, Splenda…
All these products are Aspartame, it is unnatural chemical. This chemical is used in over 5000 products, mostly Diet and Weight loss products. Ranging from diet colas and fruit drinks to yogurt products and desserts. It’s known as a diet product, NutraSweet, Equal, diet coke, diet Pepsi, Sweeteners, Diet and Weight loss products.

What Aspartame can do to you?
Breast cancer and prostate cancer is 5 to 6 times higher in North America and Europe where consumption of aspartame is significantly higher. A February 1994 Department of Health and Human Services Report stated 92 afflictions relating to Aspartame which include:

Blindness
Joint Pain
Fatigue
Weight Gain
Chest Pain
Insomnia
Numbness
Depression
Weakness
Irritability
Nausea
Memory loss
Rashes
Dizziness
Headaches
4 types of seizures
Anxiety
Fainting
Loss of diabetic control
Cramps
Diarrhea
Panic
Burning tongue and loss of taste
Brain Tumors
Parkinson’s
Infant death
Lupus
Graves
Lymphoma
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s
Miscarriages
Breast tumors
Chronic fatigue
Psychosis
Birth Defects

Healthy Sugar Alternatives.

In the Quran, Allah SWT Said:
“And your Lord inspired the bees, saying: “take your habitations in the mountains and in the trees in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy.” There comes forth from their bodies, a drink of varying colors wherein is healing for men. Verily in this is indeed a sign for people who think”. 16 : 68-69

Why go for something unnatural, addictive, that causes disease and illness, like SUGAR or ASPARTAME instead of the natural and healthy HONEY?

Before white sugar was even invented, people used honey both for food, and to support a wide range of body functions.
Honey is a natural and it helps improve your daily energy naturally. 

Honey has been shown to have an antimicrobial effect against many bacteria and fungi. Many medical studies found that honey sped up the healing of wounds, and it can help heal ulcers, as well as offering relief from diarrhea, insomnia, sunburn, and sore throats.

Other great alternatives:

Raw, wild Mesquite Pod Meal: 
It’s a nutritious condiment ground from the bean pods of the mesquite tree. This aromatic powder or meal can be used as a sweetener or flavor enhancer.

Stevia: 
It’s an herb native to South America, is now grown and cultivated throughout the world. Stevia easily digested, dissolves quickly, is safe for diabetics and has no calories or carbohydrates. 

Raw organic yacon syrup: 
It’s a new vegan sweetener. Pressed from the yacon root, this gift from nature has been enjoyed for centuries in the Andean highlands of Peru. 

Organic sun-cured wildcrafted vanilla beans! 
These are moist and very plump beans. These vanilla beans have a complex aroma, and a dark, robust flavor. Vanilla beans are ideal for making your own raw desserts and smoothies. 

Organic Raw Agave Nectar from mature plants – The agave (uh-gah-vay) plant has been long been cultivated in hilly, semi-arid soils of Mexico. 

We all have to take personal responsibility, eliminate these poisons, and protect ourselves, our families and most importantly our kids, who consume so much of these poisons daily throw candies, sodas, gums, soft drinks… 

Diseases are on the rise every minute, Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, Obesity, and many others… 

Disease is easier to prevent than it is to cure. 

It is your choice. 

- Badr Bakry
mySabil

If you could make one simple change in your diet to help you lose weight, melt fat, sleep better, and improve your memory, would you do it?

What if that same simple dietary change could also:

- Reverse diabetes?

- Increase your energy?

- Conquer depression?

- Save your eyesight?

- Restore mental alertness?

- Increase your lifespan?

Now, this may sound too good to be true.

But it’s not.

And you don’t have to take drugs. Nor do you have to try some newfangled experimental supplements. Or stop eating. Or even give up the foods you love.

It’s as simple as reducing the amount of sugar you eat.

This is not a trick.

You can actually give up sugar and keep your sweet tooth happy.

This is the greatest health secret of all time. And I’m going to teach you how to incorporate it into your life so you can lose weight without taking drugs. But, before I tell you how, I want you to know…

Why You Should Give Up Sugar.

Have you ever been plagued by hard-to-diagnose health problems like why you can’t lose weight, no matter how hard you exercise or diet?

Well, it’s not all in your head. It could be your sugar addiction. In fact a recent study proves that sweets are more addictive than cocaine.

Today, the average consumption of sugar is a whopping 160 pounds! It’s suicide in slow motion. Sugar addicts eliminate 11-20 years from their lifespan.

Now I’m not saying to forget your sweet tooth completely.

We all have the need to get a sweet fix. It’s part of our biological makeup. Men suck down sodas to make it through the “afternoon blues.”

The irony is that your body doesn’t actually need any sugar. Over time, “sweetener addiction” leads to a host of dreaded diseases like insulin resistance, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. To avoid the sabotage, you must understand how to get your sweet fix without becoming addicted.

How to Reduce your Sugar Levels, Lose Weight & Reverse the Effects of Diabetes

1. Understand how much sugar you are putting into their body.

Most people are simply giving into an addiction while slowly ruining their health. To judge whether or not you are at risk, read your food labels for one day and count how many grams of sugar you are eating. Multiply your answer by 365. Then simply divide by 453.9. This will tell you how many pounds of sugar you are stuffing into your mouth annually!

2. Don’t replace table sugar with the artificial sweetener Splenda to get your sweet fix.

Splenda is a perfect example of a drug in disguise. It contains the drug sucralose. Invented in a pesticide lab, this chemical is 600 times sweeter than sugar. To make sucralose, chlorine is used. And, chlorine has a split personality.

It can be harmless or it can be life threatening. In combo with sodium, chlorine forms a harmless ionic bond to yield table salt. When used with carbon, the chlorine atom in sucralose forms a covalent bond. The end result is deadly organochlorine, known simply as a “Really Nasty Form of Chlorine.”

Unlike ionic bonds, covalently bound chlorines are a big no-no for the human body. They yield insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides. This is not something you want in your sports drink or your child’s lunchbox.

3. Avoid Equal and Nutrasweet.

Teaching organic chemistry, I taught my students how to identify the active ingredients in soda using a technique known as TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography). They discovered that the byproducts of sodas containing aspartame are all known poisons that will slowly kill you: methanol, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. I never saw my students with a diet soda after that. Guess what Equal and Nutrasweet contains.

4. Use Natural Sweeteners as Safe Alternatives to Artificial Sweeteners.

Alternatives like erythritol, agave, xylitol and luo han guo can be found in abundance. Choosing which natural sweetener to use depends on which one tastes best to you.

How to Choose Which Natural Sweetener to Use

Agave nectar usually wins. It stimulates taste buds exactly the same way sucrose does. But unlike common table sugar, very little of its active ingredient – insulin – is absorbed. Therefore, you are protected from the dangers of sugar addiction.

Agave is a bit harder to bake with. This is where the safe and natural erythritol wins. You can replace it gram for gram with sugar. Even better, I like to use 25% table sugar and 75% erythritol in baking and ice cream. You won’t even notice the healthy difference. That’s the real magic here!

Getting Your Sweet Fix Doesn’t Have to be Deadly.

All natural sweeteners are known to help control appetite, keep insulin and blood sugar low, and prevent the formation of age accelerating molecules in our body. None of them are addicting. Nor will they diminish your lifespan. They are perfect to use with my Hormone Intelligence Therapy (HIT) program for reversing diabetes, losing fat and feeling great in 90 days.

If you learn to gauge your sugar intake with The People’s Chemist Death by Sugar Calculator and start using natural sweeteners, you will lose weight guaranteed. You won’t be plagued by hard-to-diagnose health problems. And you’ll have more years to enjoy life and those you love.

I recently listened to an interesting conversation related to corn. It was more a debate on corns’ status as a vegetable, lack of nutritional value, and link to health problems (specifically diabetes and obesity). It was proposed that corn should be banned from production. The debate went on to suggest a comparison between corn and tobacco production and their similar impact on our society. Now, I am hoping some of this was argument just for arguments sake. What did this little yellow kernel ever do? I am stepping up in its’ defense.

Vegetable

If you want to delve into botany, you could argue that corn is a grain; but I am not going to go into that explanation. In our society, corn is eaten like a vegetable. Granted it is a starchy vegetable, but a vegetable nonetheless. As far as nutritional value, ½ cup of frozen corn contributes some Vitamin A and potassium, 2 g of dietary fiber, 2.5 g of protein, only 1.5 g of sugar and less than 0.5 g of fat. The nutritional value is not outstanding, but not terrible either.

Resistant Starch

Corn is a whole grain and includes resistant starch. Resistant starches are popping up as a hot topic related to weight loss. A resistant starch is a type of fiber that resists digestion and passes through the small intestine to the large intestine mostly intact. In the large intestine it ferments and produces a fatty acid (bytyrate) that reduces toxins and helps protect against digestive diseases. Resistant starches boost immunity, improve blood sugar control, and increase satiety (a plus for individuals trying to lose weight).

Cornmeal, Corn Starch, Popcorn, High Fructose Corn Syrup

Corn is used in the production of many products. I am going to briefly cover just a couple – cornmeal, cornstarch, popcorn, and high fructose corn syrup – none of which are vegetables.

Cornmeal versus cornstarch is comparable to whole wheat flour versus white flour. Cornmeal includes the whole corn grain (bran, germ, and endosperm) while cornstarch is refined (bran and germ removed). Whole grain equals a good source of dietary fiber.

Popcorn is an excellent snack that is low calorie. Of course, you need to watch the added butter and salt. One cup of light popcorn equals ~15 calories and provides 5 g of dietary fiber!

High fructose corn syrup is a major ingredient in soda and numerous foods with a low nutritional value. To produce high fructose corn syrup, whole corn is refined to corn starch. This corn starch is then processed with enzymes to yield a glucose and fructose mixture, eventually resulting in the production of high fructose corn syrup. To say that high fructose corn syrup is corn is like saying Sunny Delight is orange juice.

Glycemic Index

The glycemic index is an oft times used rationale supporting the argument that corn is bad, based on how quickly corn raises blood sugar levels. It has been well-known for years that the glycemic index is not a reliable tool. If you were to base eating on the glycemic index, that would mean you sit down for your evening meal and dine on a cup of corn only. How likely is that? A typical meal includes a variety of foods, such as some meat and bread, along with corn. The protein, fiber, and other components of these various foods, negate the glycemic index value established for corn alone.

Portion Control

I sincerely doubt someone is overweight because they couldn’t put down the corn. Corn does provide ~80 calories per half cup, so as with everything else, you need to practice portion control and watch what you add. A tablespoon of butter added to a half cup of corn increases the calorie count to ~180 calories.

Bottom Line:

If you like corn, eat it. You do receive a nutritious vegetable, but watch the amount. Definitely NOT the root of all evil!

© 2008 eNutritionServices, All Rights Reserved.

7 Powerhouse Foods For Women

We all know that we need to eat healthier, that is not the debate. Often times, we have questions on the foods that we should be eating.  Here are 7 foods that all people, especially women should be eating on a regular basis.  Consumption of these foods will greatly decrease your risks of cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.  These foods will also slow down the aging process!

• Berries.

Enough can not be said about the health benefits of berries. The amount of antioxidants trumps almost any other food. Try to eat at least a cup or more at least three times per week. They can help prevent memory loss and decrease the possibility of weight gain.

• Salmon.

Salmon has tremendous amounts of omega-3, which is a healthy fat that fight off heart disease. It only takes 3 ounces to provide 170 percent of the recommended dosage of vitamin B12 and 80 percent of vitamin D.  Try to get a minimum of two servings per week.

• Leafy Green Vegetables.

These types of leafy green vegetables such as greens and spinach have large amounts of fiber and vitamins such as C, K, folic acid, lutein, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. The goal is to get two servings a day.

• Whole Grains.

These grains have an amazing 96 percent more fiber, magnesium, zinc, chromium, vitamin E, vitamin B6 than refined grains.  Unrefined grains cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Refined grains fight against these things. Try to get at least three servings per day.

• Nuts.

Nuts have a ton of protein, magnesium, vitamin B, vitamin E and fight hard against heart disease and cancer.  Replace non healthy snacks with nuts and you won’t gain any weight. Try to have a small handful most days of the week.

• Golden vegetables.

Anything that has a deep gold, yellow, or orange color is extremely healthy.  This means that there is beta-carotene which fights against cancer, colds, and other infections. It also protects your skin from skin damage. There is also potassium for your heart. Try to get two and half cups per day.

• Yogurt.

Yogurt is a dairy product that provides a tremendous amount of B vitamins, protein, calcium if it’s active cultures, probiotics which fight disease causing germs. Add your own fruit to yogurt and enjoy four or more times per week.

Be creative and find new ways to incorporate these foods into your daily diet to make sure that you and your family are getting the proper nutrition from your daily food intake. Remember that children learn by example. So that means that if you teach them to eat healthier, by what you cook then the chances that they will eat healthier as adults.

Just because you are diabetic doesn’t mean you have to give up baked beans!  Here is a recipe for quick and easy Boston-style baked beans just for you.  Other vegetable recipes follow; all are suitable for diabetics. 

EASY BOSTON-STYLE BAKED BEANS

4 cans navy beans, drained, reserving 1 1/4 cups liquid

1/2 lb bacon, fried and chopped, reserving half the fat

1 medium onion, chopped

1/4 cup yellow mustard

1/3 cup Splenda, granulated

2 tbsp molasses

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook onion in the bacon fat until translucent.  Stir in the beans and remaining ingredients.  Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.  Bake for 45 minutes.

18 servings at 9g protein, 21 g carbs and 3 g sugar each.

MASHED CAULIFLOWER

1 1/2 lbs cauliflower cut into large florets

3 cloves garlic

2 cans low-sodium chicken broth

1/8 tsp salt

dash fresh-ground black pepper

2 tbsp chopped chives

In a large saucepan, combine cauliflower, garlic and broth.  Be sure cauliflower is completely covered by liquid, adding water if necessary.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until cauliflower is tender, about 12-14 minutes.  Reserve 2 tablespoons of cooking liquid and drain remaining liquid off cauliflower.  Transfer cauliflower and garlic to a food processor and process until smooth, gradually pulsating in the reserved liquid as needed to moisten the mixture.  Season with salt and pepper.  Top with chives.  Serve warm.

A 1/2 cup serving of this recipe has 6 grams carbs and 4 grams protein making it a good diabetic choice.

VEGETABLE CURRY

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 to 1/2 tsp curry powder depending on your taste

1/4 tsp salt

1 lb plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped

3/4 cup chicken broth

3/4 lb fresh grean beans, washed, trimmed and cut into pieces

1 lb yellow squash, cut into 3/4-in thick pieces

Heat oil in large, deep skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and cook just until onions are softened.  Add ginger, curry and salt.  Cook for two minutes.  Add tomatoes, stirring until they are coated with the spices.  Add broth and bring mixture to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low.  Stir beans into mixture and cook approximately 10 minutes until beans are just tender.  Add squash to skillet, cover and simmer until squash is tender but still holds its shape, about 8 minutes.

The chicken broth with these vegetables gives them a protein balance.

Enjoy!

The two major health issues that our preteens and teens face today are Obesity and “Diabetes 2″. What they eat and what they drink are suspects in slowly leading them to their death because of their contents-the sugars or artificial sweeteners present in the products they consume.

These health issues that have arisen to major proportions over the last twenty years are now transforming the landscapes of middle schools, junior high schools, and high schools across this country. Cafeterias and vending areas are being re-evaluated for the food and beverages that are being served in hopes that healthier options can be provided to our children in curbing these two major health issues.

The body counts on natural sugars, called glyconutrients, to help support the body’s growth and immune systems. They include the following:

• Glucose
• Galactose
• Mannose
• Xylose
• Fructose
• N-Acetyl-glucosamine
• N-Acetyl-galactosamine
• N-Acetyl-neuraminic acid

Science Magazine – March 2001 issue devoted a large part of that issue to address the extensive research that is being conducted on glyconutrients and their potential benefits. This comes on the heels of Dr. Gunter Blobel’s 1999 Nobel Prize for Medicine for his studies in the new field of Glycobiology.

The body produces its own sugars, glucose and lactose. We add natural sugars with fruits and vegetables, such as fructose and glucose. One set of our taste buds registers the sweetness of that which we eat or drink. Over time, as individuals, we develop a craving for the sweet tasting foods and drinks.

Some very concerned mothers chose not to offer their babies 100% fruit juice for this very reason. But when you travel through the supermarket aisles you can see the sections devoted to developing a taste for sweets…fruit juices, powder mixes for flavored drinks, soda pop, bakery goods, cookies, ice cream and toppings, and all the candy and gum at the check out counter as your last temptation.

The processed sugar products that we consume make it easy for the health professionals explain the weight gain that most Americans register to their surprise as they willingly or unwillingly step on the scale and weigh themselves. The obesity problem which is affecting many of our children today has been offered little help from the food industry across the country to curb our appetite for sweets.

The artificial sweeteners that are on the market and have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have only increased one’s desire to satisfy our sweet tooth. These artificial sweeteners are still very controversial as one research study showed that two-thirds of the respondents are concerned about the safety of these products.

These sweeteners multiply the sweetness of processed sugar:

• Aspertame is 200x sweeter (NutraSweet and Equal)
• Saccharin is 200 – 700x sweeter (Sweet ‘N Low)
• Sacradose is 600x sweeter (Splenda)

and each one of these adds to the increased desire of the taste buds for the higher intensified sweetness that they deliver. Though one may feel good for not adding calories by using these products instead of sugar, artificial sweeteners have a history of health concerns and may still lead to weight gain.

Major cola companies have drawn up plans for each educational level setting as to the different products that will be offered to students in their vending machines. They highlight healthier choices by increasing their bottled water and juices.

Where it has been permitted or a dietician educated chef has been hired, the menus have changed to reflect a healthier choice of foods with an increase in fruits and vegetables served in a more creative way that is more appealing to preteens and teens. Even the trend toward more organic foods has given our children more of the rich vitamin nutrition that these fruits and vegetables lose due to early harvesting, modern food processing and food packaging.

Therefore, if parents want to help their children grow strong and healthy, it is important that they be aware of what they are eating and drinking not only at home, but at school and after school. Too much sugar and/or artificial sweeteners may put their child’s health at risk. Obesity and “Diabetes 2″ are two serious health risks already on the health care radar screen.

Hopefully, the changes one might find in schools’ cafeterias and vending areas are only the beginning of healthier choices, and thus healthier lives for your children.

The two major health issues that our pre-teens and teens face today are Obesity and “Diabetes 2″. What they eat and what they drink are suspects in slowly leading them to their death because of their contents—the sugars or artificial sweeteners present in the products they consume.

These health issues that have arisen to major proportions over the last twenty years are now transforming the landscapes of middle schools, junior high schools, and high schools across this country. Cafeterias and vending areas are being re-evaluated for the food and beverages that are being served in hopes that healthier options can be provided to our children in curbing these two major health issues.

The body counts on natural sugars, called glyconutrients, to help support the body’s growth and immune systems. They include the following

· Glucose

· Galactose

· Mannose

· Xylose

· Fructose

· N-Acetyl-glucosamine

· N-Acetyl-galactosamine

· N-Acetyl-neuraminic acid

Science Magazine – March 2001 issue devoted a large part of that issue to address the extensive research that is being conducted on glyconutrients and their potential benefits. This comes on the heels of Dr. Gunter Blobel’s 1999 Nobel Prize for Medicine for his studies in the new field of Glycobiology.

The body produces its own sugars, glucose and lactose. We add natural sugars with fruits and vegetables, such as fructose and glucose. One set of our taste buds registers the sweetness of that which we eat or drink. Over time, as individuals, we develop a craving for the sweet tasting foods and drinks.

Some very concerned mothers chose not to offer their babies 100% fruit juice for this very reason. But when you travel through the supermarket aisles you can see the sections devoted to developing a taste for sweets…fruit juices, powder mixes for flavored drinks, soda pop, bakery goods, cookies, ice cream and toppings, and all the candy and gum at the check out counter as your last temptation.

The processed sugar products that we consume makes it easy for the health professionals explain the weight gain that most Americans register to their surprise as they willingly or unwillingly step on the scale and weigh themselves. The obesity problem which is affecting many of our children today has been offered little help from the food industry across the country to curb our appetite for sweets.

The artificial sweeteners that are on the market and have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have only increased one’s desire to satisfy our sweet tooth. These artificial sweeteners are still very controversial as one research study showed that two-thirds of the respondents are concerned about the safety of these products. These sweeteners multiply the sweetness of processed sugar:

· Aspertame is 200x (NutraSweet and Equal)

· Saccharin is 200 – 700x sweeter (Sweet ‘N Low)

· Sacradose is 600x sweeter (Splenda)

and each one of these adds to the increased desire of the taste buds for the higher intensified sweetness that they deliver. Though one may feel good for not adding calories by using these products instead of sugar, artificial sweeteners have a history of health concerns and may still lead to weight gain.

Major cola companies have drawn up plans for each educational level setting as to the different products that will be offered to students in their vending machines. They highlight healthier choices by increasing their bottled water and juices.

Where it has been permitted or a dietician educated chef has been hired, the menu have changed to reflect a healthier choice of foods with an increase in fruits and vegetables served in a more creative way that is more appealing to pre-teens and teens. Even the trend toward more organic foods has given our children more of the rich vitamin nutrition that these fruits and vegetables lose due to early harvesting, modern food processing and food packaging.

Therefore, if parents want to help their children grow strong and healthy, it is important that they be aware of what they are eating and drinking not only at home, but at school and after school. Too much sugar and/or artificial sweeteners may put their child’s health at risk. Obesity and “Diabetes 2″ are two serious health risks already on the health care radar screen. Hopefully, the changes one might find in schools’ cafeterias and vending areas are only the beginning of healthier choices, and thus healthier lives for your children.

Low-calorie sweeteners are sugar substitutes that have no calories and do not raise blood glucose levels through eating them, making them perfect for diabetic people. Low-cal sweeteners are neither carbohydrate, nor fat, and they don’t fit any of the other categories of the diabetic exchange .Sweeteners can be added to a diabetic meal plan instead of exchanged.

The following types of artificial sweetener are commercially available:

Saccharin – Saccharin is often used in both hot and cold foods as an artificial sweetener. Saccharin, despite initial concerns over its carcinogenic affects, has been proven as a safe and effective sweetener. Famous brands include Sweet N Low.

Aspartame – Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that can be better employed in cold foods. Depending on the type, higher temperatures can decrease its sweetening effects. Popular brands include NutraSweet and Equal.

Acesulfame Potassium – Acesulfame potassium (also called acelsufame-K), is another type of low-calorie sweetener suitable for diabetes sufferers. The sweetener can be used in cooking because of its ability to resist heat. Sweet One and Swiss Sweet are both based around this sweetener.

Sucralose – Sucralose is the most recent low-calorie sweetener around. The sweetener is not affected by heat and generally retains its sweetness in cooking or hot drinks. Splenda is based on Sucralose.

Low-calorie sweeteners generally have fewer calories, and as such can be good for overweight people, often type 2 diabetics , who are trying to lose weight. However, it is worth being aware of what the food you are eating contains – foods that contain low-calorie sweeteners are not necessarily low-calorie themselves. To stay on top of this, always check the nutrition information on the food label. Sugar-free foods do not always mean low calorie, so be on your guard for this.

You may remember the school yard chime, “Beans, beans, the magical fruit…” You say “musical?” Well, I say magical! The FDA agrees and has approved a U.S. dietary guidance message that says bean-rich diets may reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers. This includes garbanzo, kidney, black beans and other legumes (not the yellow and green bean varieties). Studies also suggest that eating beans as part of a healthy diet may help to manage diabetes and help cut the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

Fiber-ific
When it comes to a healthy diabetes diet, beans are fantastic! Chock-full of fiber, beans have a low glycemic index (the rate at which a food raises your blood sugar), and provide sustained energy while slowly being released into your blood stream. A one-half cup serving of most beans contain 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrate and up to an incredible 8 grams of fiber.

The fiber in beans helps to fill you up (but not out), while promoting a healthy digestive tract and helping to lower blood cholesterol levels.  Although carbohydrate rich, beans also form high levels of a type of “resistant” starch (starch that is resistant to digestion) – when cooked and then cooled. This makes chilled cooked beans in particular easier on your blood sugar than many other starches.

Beyond Fiber
If that weren’t enough, beans provide loads of vitamins such as folate, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, and minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium. Beans are also naturally fat-free and dry legumes are very low in sodium. Lastly, legumes are a wonderful source of inexpensive protein, with as much as 10 grams per serving. In fact it’s hard to find a better source of overall great nutrition and protein than beans.

Cooking with Beans

• Canned, cooked beans are delicious and convenient. Rinse before using to reduce the sodium and add to soups, salads, or your favorite chicken or tuna salad recipe.
• Combine equal amounts of lean beef and beans for the best chili in town.
• Add beans to whole grain pasta or rice side dishes to add creaminess and extra fiber.
• Pureed beans make great dips and spreads. For a quick and easy White Bean Dip, puree 1 15-ounce can of drained cannellini beans with 2 cloves of garlic, 2 tablespoons of each olive oil and lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of oregano. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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Rats used in laboratories at the University of Purdue, West Lafyatte in Indiana USA have had a tendency of gaining more weight if they were exposed to food with artificial sweetening substances.

When you eat sugar, the body prepares itself for calories and makes release of chemicals to handle this. When you eat artificial sugar and the calories are not present, you will confuse the body. This can lead to obesity as you are tricked to eat more than usually of normal sugar content food.

Susan Swithers and Terry Davidson has in their research report published in Behavioral Neuroscience Journal dedicated information about these issues and state they can document these phenomena’s. At the same time they agree it can be contradictory to nutrition expert’s advice on using light variations of various consumer products available to us.

There are discrepancies amongst experts that the recent research report from the US researcher is correct or not. However, some evidence is given by various research teams on animals and not humans. One seems not to find this effect on humans when doing these lab researches.

When the insulin level in the body increases, the blood sugar level drops, and you have to eat and/or drink to get the blood sugar in balance again.

The artificial sweetening substance is believed to affect the production level of the insulin in the body. Some belive this effect is small however. Studies done on humans have demonstrated that the calorie intake is less if using the light variants instead of the normal sugar based products.

As for diabetics, there is another side to it. It is believed that these products would be a good alternative to diabetics and for those who want to loose weight.

The artificial sweeting substances used today is very well proved; however there are discrepancies in opinions whether these substances can have a negative effect on the human body, especially the sweetening substance. “Diet” or “light” products which contain artificial sweetenersoften have notably different mouthfeel, or in table sugar replacements that mix maltodextrins with an intense sweetener to achieve satisfactory texture sensation.

In the United States, five intensely-sweet sugar substitutes have been approved for use. They are saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, and acesulfame potassium. There is some ongoing controversy over whether artificial sweeteners are health risks. This controversy is fueled by anecdotal reports and sometimes controversial studies that have gained publicity. There is also an herbal supplement, stevia, used as a sweetener. Controversy surrounds stevia’s safety, although natural, and there is a battle over its approval as a sugar substitute. The learning lesson has to be that one should not over do the use of these ”Diet” or ”Light” products. Water is still the best source for the body, and should be used, given the access to good quality water of course.

According to nutrition experts one should avoid artificial sweeteners. The problematic part of artificial sweeteners is that the body gets tricked and gets a signal that something sweet is entering the system, and that leads to drop in blood sugar which again increases the food intake.

The problem is worse for those with weight problems or has problems with unstable blood sugar levels. Slim and well trained persons will not notice the drop in blood sugar as large as obese or inactive persons.

Natural sweetening as Erytriol and Xylitol is preferred to artificial ones as well as trying to avoid the refined white sugar versus the less refined version.

Sugar and sweets can be addictive, even if the need for sweets is inherited in our genes. Habits play an important role here too, which is a trained behavior from childhood and onwards. By eating and drinking lots of sweets, regardless of type, maintains a certain level of need for sweet consumer products.

Refined sugar types introduce lots of empty energy to the body, which again can result in lower digestion, conversion, obesity and type 2 diabetes. White sugar also act as a thief of minerals and vitamins which again increase the chance of teeth illnesses, weak bone structure, and psychiatric illnesses..