Going Sugar Free the Right Way!
Cutting down on your sugar intake has many health benefits. Many people consider cutting back on sugar intake and replacing the sugar with artificial sweeteners to cut back on calorie intake. Even when you want to reduce the amount of sugar you eat there are certain things to watch out for, furthermore, there are many alternatives to consider.
1. No Sugar Added
Sugarless isn’t always so- Strangely enough, a product may claim to be ‘sugarless’ or ‘no sugar added’ but that doesn’t mean that there is no sugar, it just means they didn’t add any refined sugar to it during processing. It’s recommended to have a look at the nutrition information to see how many carbs are in the food to get a better idea of how much sugar there is in the food.
2. Sugar Alcohol
Sugar alcohols are a good replacement for traditional sugars. There are certain ingredients that are described as ‘sugar alcohols’. These aren’t actually alcohols and they don’t cause any sort of intoxication. The FDA has said they don’t cause cavities and in fact one of them, Xylitol, actually protects teeth!
3. Artificial Sweeteners
The widely used artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose haven’t shown to be dangerous for human consumption. Even so, it’s important to watch out for impacting the flavor of a dish while cooking at home using a sugar substitute. Aspartame for instance, can’t be used for baked goods since it degrades at high temperatures.
Interested in learning more about sugar free options and their impact on your oral health? Salem, NH and Newburyport, MA dental office Paul Mathew Artisan Dentistry offers Home Care Education for any patient interested in learning more about going sugar-free, or anything else related to dentistry.
Schedule a visit with your local dental office for professional advice on the best sugar-free diet options.