Who needs sugar when Studio SWEAT onDemand is just as sweet!? Expert trainer, Cat Kom and the R.D. phenom, Miriam, are here to provide you with awesome information on sugar substitutes, sugar alternatives and everything you’ve been looking to learn about those little yellow, pink, and blue packets!

Firstly, let’s look at it this way, a sugar substitute is Sweet & Low. A sugar alternative is honey, it’s a “natural” sweetner. Now let’s get the sweet facts about each general option.

Sugar substitutes provide sweetness to foods and drinks without adding the extra calories. Since sugar substitutes control carbohydrate intake and blood glucose, those who have diabetes or are looking to moderate their weight should consider these options. There are various substitutes to choose from, but they’re not all calorie free, fully digestible, and ranging the same in blood sugar impact.

One sweetener that Miriam holds to the highest regard is Stevia. Stevia is an herb that grows throughout the world and is naturally 200 times sweeter than sugar. This product has been used around the world in medicinal remedies and as a natural sweetener for centuries. It contains zero calories and carbs. Also, most don’t experience the undesirable side effects of artificial sweeteners when consuming these packets. Although Stevia is processed and modified, the different flavors aren’t created equal and some Stevia products are considered healthier than others. It does have an acquired taste some are not fans of though.

-Green Leaf by Stevia is known to be the least processed of the stevia types since the leaves are just dried and grounded in powder form.

Other Substitutes include:

-Splenda is the most common sucralose-based product. Sucralose is produced from sugar through a multiple step chemical process where hydrogen-oxygen groups are substituted with chlorine atoms. Splenda goes through processing, bleaching, and chemical alteration. Many believe sucralose has no effect on blood sugar or insulin levels, but it truly depends on you as an individual and how often you consume this sweetener. If eaten in excess, it may raise blood and insulin levels and can damage the bacterial environment in the gut. Be wary of these side effects, but one packet a day definitely won’t hurt you.

-When encountering a label that has “low fat” or “non-fat” on it, don’t automatically assume that it’s better for you! Many reduced fat products contain the same or even more calories than the regular food since. In production, while companies strip away the fats from these products, they bring on additional salt, flavoring, and additives to add more taste. Various studies have proved that when people purchase these products, it can lead to overeating since they perceive the item as healthier.

Natural sweeteners (sugar alternatives) that are healthy and tasty alternatives to artificial sweeteners include:

-Honey helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria and is a better alternative than table sugar.

-Maple syrup. When selecting maple syrup in stores, select the darker shades since they are known to contain more beneficial antioxidants!

-Molasses. Darker molasses indicate the presence of less sugar.

-Agave is a natural alternative to refined sugars and artificial sweeteners. This honey-like sap comes from the leaves of the blue agave, a succulent plant widely grown in Mexico. Despite what you might have heard, there is actually a lot of debate right now as to whether or not this option is better or worse for you than sugar.

Although artificial sweeteners take many forms, one thing they all have in common is being incredibly effective at stimulating the sweet taste receptors on the tongue and tricking you into consuming more. Be mindful of how many packets you use per meal and try to moderate your intake. Remember to consider other alternatives, especially those that are naturally made.

Watch the video in full for more information and for more trainer tip videos, go here!: https://bitcotprod.studiosweatondemand.com/category/trainer-tip-videos/