Americans eat an average of about 30 teaspoons of sugar a day (this equates to nearly 500 empty calories per day). “Added sugars” have made the American Heart Association (AHA) blacklist of foods that if eaten in excess contribute to heart disease—our nation’s leading cause of death in men and women. The AHA prudent guidelines on sugar intake call for an upper limit of no more than 100 calories per day in women (about 6 teaspoons of sugar) and 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons of sugar) in men.
How can you cut back on your added sugar intake? One way is to substitute non-calorie sweeteners like Splenda or Stevia into your day. Splenda tastes great and is perfect for baking. Stevia is the newer kid on the block…here’s what you need to know about Stevia:
Stevia is a non-caloric sweetener that comes from a shrub that is native to Brazil and Paraguay yet is grown primarily in China for worldwide distribution. Stevia has for years been marketed in the US as an herbal supplement due to pressure from the sugar/sweetener industry to keep it from sitting alongside the pink and yellow packets on restaurant tables. However, that is set to change shortly. Stevia, as a sugar substitute, is estimated to reach billions of dollars in the coming years as it has just reportedly received the green light for use by the top dogs, Coca Cola, Pepsi and Dr Pepper. As far as safety, Japan has used it for decades, with no significant problems reported. According to the USDA, a 1 g serving has just 1 calorie and about 1 g of carbohydrate. It has no fat and no cholesterol. If you like the taste, and it helps you to eat less added sugars (the real bad guys), then by all means include it in your diet!
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