Diary of a Nutritionist

The average American consumes over 100 pounds of “white sugar” a year…

This amount does not include the amount of artificial sweeteners (like aspartame, saccharin and acesilfame-K) that are chemically processed and used to sweeten popular diet foods and soda pops. Particularly, sucralose (brand name, Splenda)– is produced by the chlorination of sugar.   Yum, chlorinated sugar. Not quite!

As discussed in the article, pH and The Secret to Beautiful Skin, Beautiful skin starts on the inside.  “Your pH and thus, your diet, is reflected in the health and overall appearance of your skin.”

If you remember from a previous article discussing acid and alkaline forming foods, White Sugar is HIGHLY ACID-FORMING. Even though, society tells us that “diet” and artificial sweeteners are better for dieters, or the “health conscious,” this is far from the case.  In fact, studies have show that these calorie-free alternative may be even more debilitating and just as, if not more, acid-forming than sugar itself.  YIKES!

Remember, we want to eat alkaline forming foods for a healthy body, and thus healthy glowing skin– sugar and artificial sweeteners are not part of this equation.

The good news!  There is an alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners called Stevia*.  Stevia is a more pH-friendly (in fact, it can be alkaline-forming), non-caloric, “sweetleaf” or herb.  I love cooking with Stevia, and concocting creative beverages and sweet treats with it.  It is my favorite, “not-so-secret” ingredient and you are bound to find it in almost every one of my recipes.

the most amazing vanilla sweetener on the market

Delicious!

CONTEST (and free giveaway):

I have tried many brands of Stevia and have been loyal to NuNaturals amazing NuStevia products for years (they are hands down the best tasting stevia products on the market). Guess what!? The amazing folks at NuNaturals brand have very generously offered to award four (4) of my readers: one (1) Free box of their NuStevia™ 50 packet boxes, plus one(1) Free bottle of their NEW Alcohol Free Vanilla Stevia Liquid, 2 oz. Size ($21 value). How fun!! I am sure that you will absolutely love their products and they have no funny aftertaste like other Stevia products I have tasted.

Contest Criteria: It’s easy!

1.  Leave a comment with a creative or favorite recipe that you would like to make with your very own NuStevia products.  It can be an experimental recipe!  The Vanilla Liquid stevia is my personal favorite!

2.  The contest starts now, and will end at Midnight on Monday the 11th. I will choose my four (4) favorite recipes on Tuesday morning!  I will contact you first and then NuNaturals will send your prize directly to you!

Check out some of my recipes where I use stevia…  this Sweet Guacamole has been a hit.

even guests who swore they hated avocado loved this one!

SO… the challenge is on!  What would you make?

*Update:  I feel I must point out, while Stevia is a better choice than sugar and artificial sweeteners, in addition to being acceptable for diabetics, I do think the closer we can get to enjoying “basic” foods, supplied entirely by nature, is always better (i.e. using sweeteners like agave, dates and raw honey)… That being said, I do still use Vanilla NuStevia myself, and  use powdered NuStevia when cooking and in creating recipes for family and friends.  I recommend NuNaturals powdered NuStevia to everyone  using sugar and for those individuals looking for a “calorie-free” alternative to artificial sweeteners.  Powdered NuStevia includes maltodextrin, a food grade carbohydrate derived from grain.  I have found it to be easily digestible, in using it over the years.

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