Sugar is bad for you. We’ve known that for a long time. The evidence and research showing just how bad for you it is, grows daily. Inflammation, cellular damage, tooth decay, cancer, brain tumors, diabetes, alzheimers…on and on. But how do we navigate all that doom and gloom and survive the media and marketing engines cunning manipulation and the food industry’s clever hiding of sugar in our foods and drinks? Is it actually possible to have sweet things without causing insulin spikes or food cravings or muffin tops??

Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that hard. We’ve put together a snippet of the Bulletproof® Diet infographic specific to sweeteners, along with our take on what we find the best for us.

Bottom line here:

• If you have to choose between regular sugar or “diet” or “artificial” sweetener (and you absolutely have to have it) choose the regular everytime
• Find which works best for you and your family from the green sweeteners below
• Try to limit your carb intake to late afternoon or evening to stave off food cravings and crashes. More info see the Bulletproof Diet book

Click the image to see a larger version

For more information on this and some “science-ey” stuff see these links:

Sugar Alcohols: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/sugar-alcohols

Artificial Sweeteners: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/08/the-4-best-and-3-worst-sweeteners-to-have-in-your-kitchen.aspx

Why Xylitol: http://chriskresser.com/are-xylitol-sorbitol-and-other-sugar-alcohols-safe-replacements-for-sugar

Agave is bad: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/30/beware-of-the-agave-nectar-health-food.aspx

These are all backed by the actual science but very concise and more digestible reading for most.
Agave has been touted as a “vegan health food” but the fact is, it’s just fructose. Some commercially available agave is actually super concentrated and can have a higher fructose level than high fructose corn syrup!

Aspartame metabolises in your body into wood alcohol, which is a poison and formaldehyde, which is an embalming agent used in hospitals. A neurotoxin that can pass the blood brain barrier. Much like the effects of MSG and as these 2 nasties work synergistically together, the effects are multiplied when combined – think twice about washing down your dodgy street food lunch with a diet coke!

Xylitol is very dangerous to dogs, so treat it like onions and chocolate and keep well clear.