Live It Articles FP Newsletter March Madness 2005

"Madness" is a term that comes to mind when I try to sort through the often conflicting information in the area of nutrition. Through the years, I have learned to avoid sensational headlines and lean heavily on the information we receive from credible institutions, such as the American Dietetic Association.

A long-term hot topic of discussion in the area of nutrition is the topic of sugar vs. artificial sweeteners. I answer several questions each week about how to count sugar on the CR. First Place members are allowed to choose the amount of sugar they consume.   We do not exchange sugar in First Place, it is just considered extra calories. Therefore, if you eat cake, candy, pie, ice cream, etc., you do not count any food exchange; these choices are considered extra calories. It is a good idea to list the food choices on the CR, so the number of extra calories can be considered if you do not attain the weight loss you desire.

We have many members who choose a small amount of sugar, consume all the healthy food choices suggested, and attain their desired weight each week. We have other members who feel that eating even small amounts of sugar causes them to fight extreme hunger and a craving for more sugar. They have found that eating as little added sugar as possible is the best way to attain their weekly goals. You are the best judge of how much sugar is the best choice for you.

In the past, I have shared with you information from the USDA stating that through research, artificial sweeteners are safe to consume. I would like to share a "question and answer" clip from the Harvard Medical School stating that the American Dietetic Association agrees with that fact:

Q: I've been trying to cut calories by cutting sugar out of my diet. But to satisfy my sweet tooth, I've been leaning on artificial sweeteners instead. Is it true they are bad for my health?

A: A teaspoon of sugar contains only 16 calories, but over the course of a day, the sugar calories that we add to our cereal coffee, and tea-plus the amount contained in many prepared foods- can pile up. Thus, it may make sense to turn to artificial sweeteners to keep calories under control, without giving up some of our favorite foods.

Artificial sweeteners add sweetness, without adding calories, in two ways. First, they are so sweet that you need only a tiny bit to achieve the equivalent taste. You consume a fraction of a calorie to get the sweetness of many more calories worth of sugar. Second, the body doesn't fully absorb the few calories they contain.
The American Dietetic Association recently published a comprehensive report on sugar and artificial sweeteners are safe when used in moderate amounts. The ADA also suggests that artificial sweeteners can improve the quality of an individual's diet, if adding them to fruits, vegetables, and whole grains encourages the consumption of healthful foods.

There are alternatives. You can train yourself to appreciate the unsweetened flavors. Try going without a sweetener in your coffee or cereal. While artificial sweeteners seem fine in moderation, don't lean on them too heavily.

I think you can see that this answer fits perfectly with the advice given in First Place. The choice is yours, but again, the key in whatever your choice might be is moderation.

May God Protect,

Kay
First Place Associate Director


Kay is the associate national director of First Place and has been on the First Place staff since 1987.

Kay is a popular speaker at retreats, seminars, Conferences, FOCUS Weeks and Workshops across the country. Kay is the First Place food exchange expert and writes a monthly article in the First Place E-Newsletter on nutrition. She also was a contributing writer to the Today Is the First Day devotional book. Her delightful personality and love for people endears her to everyone she meets, and they quickly become her new best friend.

Kay and her husband, Joe, live in Roscoe, TX. They have two children and five grandchildren. Two of the young grandchildren are making a name for themselves on the golf circuit. Two of the young grandchildren are making a name for themselves on the golf circuit, and the three oldest grandsons are all involved in numerous sporting events, which Kay and Joe attend as often as possible.