Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
Everyone wants to feed their family well, that’s a given. We want to give our families the best possible variety of nutrients for good health.
What you might not know is that there are some really common ingredients found on the shelves of every supermarket around the world that are doing your family more harm than good. We want to share with you why avoiding artificial sweeteners can help keep your family healthy.
Top tip: Avoid artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are fully synthetic/manufactured sweeteners added to foods and drinks. They are sweeter than sugar but contain no calories or kilojoules which is why they are so tempting to us. The trouble is, the majority are chemically created – and we’re trying really hard to keep chemicals OUT of our bodies here!
Examples of artificial sweeteners used around the world include fructose, sorbitol, erythritol, xylitol and maltodextrin. According to choice.com.au, the most common ones used in Australia are Acesulphame K (additive number 950), Alitame (956), Aspartamine (951, e.g. Equal), Cyclamate (952), Neotame (961), Saccharin (954, e.g. Sweetex) and Sucralose (955, e.g. Splenda).
You’ll find artificial sweeteners in “sugar-free” soft drinks (aka soda in the United States), Kombucha and water kefir drinks that are “sugar-free”. You’ll also find artificial sweeteners in “sugar-free” lollies, ice creams, yoghurts, and commercial desserts. Many “paleo” or “keto” treats are full of artificial sweeteners too!
But it’s plant-based!
Sure, some artificial sweeteners are extracted from plants such as stevia, but it’s really important for us to check the label. It’s not as simple as stevia = good. stevia is generally better than some of the options listed below, but not all stevia foods/drinks are created equal because the process of getting stevia into the product is important. Avoid highly purified stevia extracts. Ultimately we’re looking for plant extracts with minimal processing.
Sadly they are rarely accurately labelled. A label might say on the front that the sweetener is monk fruit, but the ingredients list says 1% monk fruit and everything else listed is an artificial sweetener or highly processed stevia.
If you’re trying to curb your sugar cravings, many “sugar-free” alternatives can be the same for the body as if you were eating sugar. If it’s perpetuating the craving for sweet foods, it’s not helpful, right?
Want to learn more about the Health Club?
If you’d like to learn more about this and discover what other everyday supermarket items to steer clear of, we’d love to share some more info with you. This is one of the many healthy habit topics we explore inside the Health Club, our online membership that anyone can join. We host live Q&As, we share resources and we are here to guide you along your journey to better health.
Join with the Intro Price – just $9.99 for 30 Days!
If you’re interested in seeing what the Supporting Balance Health Club is all about before you commit – take the opportunity to get started with our 30 day intro price of $9.99 for new members.
If you have previously had a consult with one of the SB team, you may be eligible for your first 30 days in the club free! Ask us how.