sugarfactor.org

A question came up recently
in response to my article on artificial sweeteners. The question was regarding
the safety of Stevia, a “natural” no-calorie sweetener. So, what exactly
are natural sugar substitutes and does natural always equal better? Let’s take
a look:
 
What are natural
sweeteners?
Natural sweeteners are sweeteners that, as the name states,
are derived from nature. These products can come in many forms. Some are…

Golf could quite possibly be the perfect sport. Did I just
say that? My avid-golfer-of-a-husband must be feeling giddy right about now.
 
And I know some of you may be thinking, “That is the
slowest moving activity around, how could it possibly be the perfect sport?”
 
Well, hear me out and you just might begin to believe. There
are other sports, like soccer and basketball, which obviously require lots of energy,
strength, and…

How many of you wish you could work out more but feel like you just don't have the time or that you can't afford the equipment or the membership fees? How many of you feel like all the fitness programs out there are really intended for…I don't know…anyone but you?  My guess is quite a few.  It is very evident that obesity rates are on the rise. Many things come into play here and physical inactivity is a biggie….

Artificial sweeteners are widespread, from soda to yogurt and beyond, and many people wonder about the potential safety issues. Generally, with rare exceptions, these sugar substitutes appear to pose little or no risk when used in moderation.  Artificial sweeteners provide the sweetness of sugar without the same calories and hike in blood sugar levels. But while artificial sweeteners themselves do not raise blood sugar, some foods…

St. Patrick's Day is upon us…get ready for a sea of green, green and more green. And maybe a little "luck o' the Irish"?   And I'm talking about the very best kind of luck: The kind of luck you create for yourself, rather than just waiting for something good happen to you. Amazing things are around the corner when you take action and empower yourself to move forward with a healthy plan. Want to get lucky in…

The power of positive thinking. Trite catch-phrase, or is there really something here? Let's get into some science on the matter. A recent study out of my husband's alma-mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, was done on this subject as it relates to certain aspects of fitness. The study focused on a group of women embarking on a challenging stationary-cycling session. They were evaluated on their perceptions of…

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2004, 13.9% of children ages 2-5, 18.8% of children ages 6-11, and 17.4% of children ages 12-14 are overweight. These numbers are significantly up from 1970, when the numbers were no higher than 4.6% in any of the age groups (1). Recent estimates predict we are in for more of the same: expanding waistlines, decreasing…

When I think of February, I think of Valentine's Day. Well, okay, I am really thinking about chocolate and that's not really any different than any other month. Chocolate conjures up many words: delicious, sinful, rich and…healthy? May not be what immediately springs to mind, but add it to the list. You may think that getting chocolate for a Valentine's Day gift is not such a great thing if you are trying to stay fit and…

As noted in one of my previous blogs, "The Politics of Prevention", chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. The prevention of chronic disease must take center stage as one of the most realistic and effective ways to control the ever-expanding cost of health care. I wrote that I believe that the acceptance and adoption of a healthier lifestyle, at both an individual as well as a global…

Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. This is information straight from those in the know: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And by talking about chronic diseases, we are talking about such notables as diabetes, cancer and heart disease.   The prevention of chronic disease may well be the most realistic and effective way to control the ever-expanding cost of health…