The Best Sweetener?
From the Zone Diet
What's the healthiest kind of sweetener to use in coffee or tea? According to Dr. Sears, "The best type of sweetener is none -- if you can do without it." If you can't, Dr. Sears recommends using small amounts of fructose, the primary carbohydrate found in fruits. Sold in crystalline form and available in most supermarkets, fructose has the lowest glycemic index of all the natural caloric, carbohydrate-containing sweeteners. Here's why: "Fructose has to be converted into glucose before it enters the bloodstream in the usable form of glucose," says Dr. Sears -- which explains why many fruits can be both sweet and Zone Diet -appropriate. He also recommends using stevia, an herbal-based sweetener that you can find in many health-food stores.
Of all the artificial sweeteners, sucralose (sold as Splenda) is your best choice, though Dr. Sears says he still prefers fructose because it's natural. He suggests using Splenda in moderation, since it's 600 times sweeter than sugar, and strongly cautions Zone Diet members against using other chemical-based, artificial sweeteners.
MEMBERS GET MORE! You'll find hundreds of Zoned healthy living tips and ideas on Dr. Sears Zone Diet Advantage*
