Sugar the bitter side. What are the options to make our life sweeter?

This add-present in many everyday foods, it is an enemy of health. And if that were not enough, sweeteners (such sachets with which we supply) are also questionable.

We reveal all about the alternatives to sugar.
Photo: iStock

Did you know that according to the AHA (American Heart Association) youth in the United States consume about 34 teaspoons of sugar each day?
Yes, it may seem a joke, it's true. Of course, they are not what they put on their coffee, but those included in the food they eat every day: soft drinks, candy, ice cream, bread, 'frappuccinos' and all that kind of stuff we eat and we consider harmless.
What is alarming is that this amount is more than twice the recommended daily intake. If you think you're safe because it only takes sweeteners like saccharin, sucrose or aspartame (of which offer anywhere as an alternative to sugar), you're wrong: the excess they also get to have a serious impact on your health: digestive, metabolic and even mood problems.
If you look a little more what you eat every day, you will understand our words. How many drinks shots a day? Or, for example, coffee, even if you ask in light milk, think flavoring usually syrups: pure sugar in the end, if not removed, it becomes fat.
Breads, chocolates, desserts, snacks ... There seems to be out a whole conspiracy against our welfare, but not to worry, but deal.

This red velvet cake is a temptation! Resist!
Photo: Travis Rathbone

CHOOSE HEALTHY

Dr. Frida Gonzalez, nutritionist and director of the Phisio-Medical, clinical answers the questions we have regarding this issue ... it has bitter sweet solutions.

• What are the best options to sweeten foods?

It is desirable not to do: we saturated our taste buds with hidden in many products, so that every time our body needs more sugar. Ideally, the sugar we take fresh or dried fruit and honey or agave bee, which contains vitamins and minerals.
Hungry and anxiety? The best tips to beat cravings in those days of the month

• Stevia, now so fashionable, is a healthier alternative?
  

Stevia rebaudiana is a plant whose leaves a substance that has a sweetening power 150 times that of sugar ... without your calories, light is extracted.

• How can we meet in a beneficial way the need to consume sweet?
  

Ideally make it through whole fruit, trying to avoid juices (even fresh), for the supply of sugar is higher. It is important to note that in the dried fruits a much larger amount of sugar is concentrated.

There are several much healthier alternatives.
Photo: iStock

• Sweeteners (sugar substitute), saccharin and aspartame ... How far they are more profitable?
  

The 'packets' are not healthier, are similar to sugar and were originally created for diabetics to have an alternative to satisfy their desire for sweet taste. However, despite its apparent innocence, you have to handle them very sparingly and, in my opinion, avoid them.

• Bluntly: how much sugar is an enemy of health?

Added sugar (used in the production of food and beverages) or refined, which add to our meals, no nutritional value, only energy. Therefore it is said that contributes empty calories, no vitamins or minerals. Furthermore, no cause satiety, but rather, more hunger.
Stay calm: What fattening and what not

Most of this substance is rapidly absorbed because insulin levels are stimulated, the hormone that transports, leading to rise and then fall demanding more sugar.

Sugar only provides energy content to your tea, no vitamins!
Photo: iStock navc 2016