Monday February 22, 2010 6PM - 7PM
Michael Tetrault will take an hour to talk about the number of natural sugar alternatives that are available and their benefits. In this class you will receive handouts outlining the number of sugar alternatives, the pros and cons of each, recipes and tasting of the healthy alternatives and some foods made with those sweeteners.
The class take place on February 22nd from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
RSVP by February 19th by calling The Green Grocer at 683-0007 or by email at thegreengrocerri@gmail.com
Some basics...
Known by the trade names NutraSweet and Equal aspartame has been attacked by healthcare practitioners for years. Besides evidence that artificial sweeteners don't help with weight loss (since 1981 when aspartame was introduced, Americans have become significantly more obese), it is still consumed for health reasons. Like saccharine, aspartame has been linked to cancer in rats, though unlike saccharine it is not labeled. Some reports link aspartame to a host of human problems, including symptoms that mimic lupus and Parkinson's disease, anxiety attacks, depression and brain tumors.
Sugar itself is also controversial, and has been implicated in causing of worsening a variety of health problems, including diabetes and obesity. Recent evidence even suggests that it may be addictive.
Honey, especially in raw form, can be a natural alternative to sugar. While honey contains vitamins C, D, E and B-complex as well as traces of amino acids, enzymes and minerals (up to 50 percent of which are lost when it is commercially processed), it is still high in calories and acts in your body much the same way sugar does.
For a taste similar to honey with fewer calories, try agave nectar, which is made from the Mexican agave plant. Agave nectar is a fruit sugar, which absorbs more slowly into the bloodstream and is suitable for diabetics, since it's much lower on the glycemic index.
Good for baking is xylitol, which sounds like an artificial chemical but is actually birch sugar. Unlike conventional sugar, xylitol is actually reported to fight tooth decay, and has fewer calories.
Finally, stevia an extract of a sweet leaved plant which is extremely sweet, is available in both powder and liquid form. Approximately one teaspoon of the calorie free stevia will substitute for a cup of sugar.