Minimize Sugar Consumption, Without Having To Cut Down On Sweets

Cutting back on one's sugar intake is a commonly discussed issue. High sugar levels in our bodies account for diabetes, and sugar is also associated with obesity and being overweight.

Alternately, sugar can have many negative effects on our health and well being. It causes inflammation, and is known to induce erratic brain cell firing, wherein the communication between brain cells is altered. Sugar could even be addictive.

Excessive consumption of sugar has been linked with headaches, hypertension, fluid retention and even depression. But with the present day diet patterns, sometimes it could be tough to avoid excessive consumption of sugar. A major portion of sugar consumption results not from our meals, but from the beverages that we have, and these may include coffee, alcoholic drinks, or even fruit juices.

As per a study conducted by the American Heart Association, on an average, American adults consume 22 teaspoons of sugar per day. And sugar consumption rates are higher still for teenagers in United States. On an average, teenagers in U.S consume 34 teaspoons of sugar per day.

One Can Minimize Sugar Consumption, Without Having To Cut Down On Sweets!

But one can minimize sugar consumption, without having to cut down on sweets. One must go for Stevia, a natural sweetener that has gained a great deal of prominence over past few years. Stevia is a 100% natural sweetener. And while it is 30 times sweeter than sugar, it has zero calories, zero carbohydrates, and has a zero effect on our glycemic index. So it does not raise the insulin or blood sugar levels in our bodies at all!

Stevia is an herb. It is naturally sweet and is native to Paraguay. While Stevia is non caloric, it has been used as a sweetener and even a flavor enhancer for centuries. Popularity of Stevia can further be highlighted by the fact that while Stevia finds more acceptance at all places in the world by the day, in Japan, around 40% of sweetener market is based on Stevia. So if one has sweet cravings, Stevia is undoubtedly the answer.

One of the facts that make Stevia all the more advantageous is that it is a 100% natural sweetener. If one chooses to go for artificial sweeteners, like in the form of diet sodas, these manipulate body's ability to recognize how much one has eaten. So, one tends to overeat without actually recognizing it.

There are many mechanisms by which Stevia works towards enabling us to avoid sugar. Stevia has zero sugar content, and so it ensures that cravings for sweet or fatty foods are reduced. Additionally, being 100% herbal, Stevia keeps our body supple with nutrients. So one does not feel hunger pangs. Consuming Stevia in some form around 20 minutes before meals has been said to reduce hunger sensations.

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While Stevia is safe and effective, it lets one avoid all side effects of consuming sugar. You can use Stevia in any way that you use sugar. You could use it for baking or cooking, use it for making tea, or maybe even for milkshakes or yogurt.