By Beverleigh H Piepers
When you have Type 2 diabetes, being tempted by sweets can be a hazardous situation. However, people are people, and some of us simply have a sweet tooth. Just because you are diabetic doesn't mean you can't enjoy sweets, but you do have to make special considerations for doing so.
Careful planning is required if you're going to have sweets as a diabetic. Most people who are diabetic try to save them for just special occasions so that they don't overdo it on a daily basis. Refined sugar which is different from the kind of sugar that occurs in nature is heavily processed, and it's also a lot sweeter than nature's sugars.
One item to completely cut out of your diet when you're diabetic is sweet drinks. For one thing, they're just empty calories and the sugar enters into your blood stream within seconds. This can mean a dangerous situation for someone with Type 2 diabetes. However, food and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners might be another possibility to help you stave off your cravings for something sweet.
Artificial sweeteners, also called low-calorie sweeteners or sugar substitutes, may be used to sweeten certain foods and drinks. Artificial sweeteners come in handy if you are:
* trying to reduce your calories or kilojoules from sugar
* if you have diabetes and are trying to maintain normal blood sugar levels, and
* if you like the taste of diet soda because regular soda is too sweet
You must keep in mind though certain foods containing artificial sweeteners still do have calories and carbohydrates, which means you will need to check the nutrition facts label.
Most of the artificial sweeteners on the market today have a sweetening power that is at least one hundred times more intense than typical sugar. This means that you only need a very small amount when you're using these substitutes. With the exception of aspartame, artificial sweeteners cannot be broken down in the body. Therefore, they pass through your system without being digested and have no extra calories.
Currently, the list of FDA approved artificial sweeteners are:
* acesulfame-K
* aspartame
* saccharine
* sucralose, and
* neotame
These sweeteners are utilized by food companies to make all sorts of foods and beverages from chewing gum to frozen desserts to baked goods. You can also add them to your own coffee or tea and even sprinkle them on top of fruit. Many stores are now offering granular versions that can be used for cooking and baking.
If you have a sweet tooth, one of the best options for people with Type 2 diabetes is Stevia. It's generally recognized as safe by the FDA and is several hundred times sweeter than sugar. It comes from the plant Stevia rebaudiana, which is native to South America. The leaves of Stevia rebaudiana have been used for centuries as sweeteners for bitter medicines and teas. Stevia is already in many foods that you can buy at the grocery store.
When you have Type 2 diabetes, being tempted by sweets can be a hazardous situation. However, people are people, and some of us simply have a sweet tooth. Just because you are diabetic doesn't mean you can't enjoy sweets, but you do have to make special considerations for doing so.
Careful planning is required if you're going to have sweets as a diabetic. Most people who are diabetic try to save them for just special occasions so that they don't overdo it on a daily basis. Refined sugar which is different from the kind of sugar that occurs in nature is heavily processed, and it's also a lot sweeter than nature's sugars.
One item to completely cut out of your diet when you're diabetic is sweet drinks. For one thing, they're just empty calories and the sugar enters into your blood stream within seconds. This can mean a dangerous situation for someone with Type 2 diabetes. However, food and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners might be another possibility to help you stave off your cravings for something sweet.
Artificial sweeteners, also called low-calorie sweeteners or sugar substitutes, may be used to sweeten certain foods and drinks. Artificial sweeteners come in handy if you are:
* trying to reduce your calories or kilojoules from sugar
* if you have diabetes and are trying to maintain normal blood sugar levels, and
* if you like the taste of diet soda because regular soda is too sweet
You must keep in mind though certain foods containing artificial sweeteners still do have calories and carbohydrates, which means you will need to check the nutrition facts label.
Most of the artificial sweeteners on the market today have a sweetening power that is at least one hundred times more intense than typical sugar. This means that you only need a very small amount when you're using these substitutes. With the exception of aspartame, artificial sweeteners cannot be broken down in the body. Therefore, they pass through your system without being digested and have no extra calories.
Currently, the list of FDA approved artificial sweeteners are:
* acesulfame-K
* aspartame
* saccharine
* sucralose, and
* neotame
These sweeteners are utilized by food companies to make all sorts of foods and beverages from chewing gum to frozen desserts to baked goods. You can also add them to your own coffee or tea and even sprinkle them on top of fruit. Many stores are now offering granular versions that can be used for cooking and baking.
If you have a sweet tooth, one of the best options for people with Type 2 diabetes is Stevia. It's generally recognized as safe by the FDA and is several hundred times sweeter than sugar. It comes from the plant Stevia rebaudiana, which is native to South America. The leaves of Stevia rebaudiana have been used for centuries as sweeteners for bitter medicines and teas. Stevia is already in many foods that you can buy at the grocery store.
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