The war against our regular table sugar is nothing new. There is an overload of information regarding why white sugar is a “silent killer” and makes things worse for diabetes patients. India is known as the diabetes capital of the world. Based on reports, India has around 77 million diabetics, just behind China, with over 116 million diabetics.
Things about sugar substitutes
Avni Kaul says diabetes is not solely about sugar, it is one of the chronic inflammation disorders. To call any product diabetic-friendly since it does not have sugar but actually has a certain chemical, which is going to lead to inflammation, is a paradox.
The market is making people fatter and fatter with several unscientific things, which are zero calories, and zero sugar. Everyone has got the whole paradigm wrong. Actually, the elements that are added to make a product sugar-free are mainly chemicals.
Consuming sugar has become an unchangeable habit in the modern world. Healthy substitutes to include are raisins, figs, dried fruits, fruits, and jaggery.
Balance is the essence of a healthy life
But maintaining a balance is key to a healthy life. Even natural sweeteners need to be consumed in moderation. One needs to avoid substitute sweeteners, such as Aspartame, Sucralose, and corn syrup.
Unnatural ingredients cause concern. As far as food is concerned, it is the entry of non-food products into food, which is the biggest cause of concern.
But there are separate views too
It has been seen that there is a lobbying named anti-chemical lobby and a natural food-only lobby. One needs to move away from the chemical phobia. Everything is a chemical; we are all made of chemicals.
If one can say dihydrogen monoxide, it will sound like scary stuff. But dihydrogen monoxide is H20, which we know as water. Moving sugar completely is not a viable option. Rather than telling diabetes patients to eliminate sugar and filling them with unnecessary guilt and restriction, one can offer them viable alternatives.
Everything natural is not mandatorily the best. Jaggery is solely a sugar in a different form. It is like saying ice is better than vapour.
Jaggery is marginally better compared to sugar in terms of its iron content. “But to get your daily need of iron from jaggery by itself, you’ll have to eat a kilo of jaggery per day, which is quite bad to do.
Diabetics need to consume foods having a lower glycemic index and slowly release the sugar into the bloodstream. One must fill themselves up with high-fibre foods and have these sugary foods in small treats.
The only thing that one should watch out for is that if they are consuming sugar alcohols then you need to be sure you are not consuming them in large amounts. Some examples of sugar alcohols include Malitol and xylitol, which are actively used in modern-day ice creams and chocolates.
Those are not digested in the same manner as regular sugar. Bacteria inside your intestines digest these sugar alcohols. So, if you consume too much of them, this bacteria fails to manage the load, and you can get flatulence and abdominal discomfort. Health should not be a problem, regular healthy whole grains, diversity in your diet and timed meals will help you keep healthy. In this blog, India’s eminent dietician for diabetics Avni Kaul has shared her views regarding sugar alternatives.
Avni Kaul is Founder of Nutriactivania with Masters Degree in Food and Nutrition from University of Delhi and is also a Certified Diabetes Educator from Project Hope and International Diabetes Federation. She is a Leicester Mammas Ambassador trained in Lactation Counselling with NHS United Kingdom. Mammas support pregnant and new mothers and their families. Specializations of Avni Kaul Include Infant and Young Child Feeding Practises, Pre and Post natal diets, Fat loss, Muscle Gain and Holistic Health and Nutrition