Sweet News About a Rare Sugar

[View this email in your browser]( Sweet News About a Rare Sugar The news about the risks of using sugar substitutes can leave you feeling sour, but there’s an FDA-approved rare sugar that will sweeten your day without messing with your insulin or glucose level! Meet allulose. The bad news: In May of this year the World Health Organization released conditional guidelines about the use of non-sugar sweeteners (they apply to anyone who doesn’t have diabetes). The guidelines recommend against ingesting these zero-calorie sweeteners, (sucralose, acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, and stevia derivatives) to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases. Not only does it appear that those sugar substitutes have no weight-loss benefit, they also don’t seem to reduce inflammation or lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. In fact, Harvard reports that one French study of more than 100,000 people (80% women) found that artificial sweeteners were linked to a 9% higher risk of cardiovascular problems and an 18% greater risk of stroke. The good news: Allulose, a naturally occurring rare sugar found in figs, raisins, wheat, maple syrup and molasses, is available. It is 70% as sweet as regular sugar, but without many of sugar’s well-studied health risks. And unlike sugar substitutes, its taste and texture is comparable to regular sugar. Documented pluses: This rare sugar has no negative effect on your insulin or blood glucose levels. In fact, preliminary research, including a prospective, randomized, single-blind, crossover study, suggests it may even help lower blood sugar levels after eating. Allulose isn’t metabolized in your mouth, as conventional sugar is, and doesn’t cause tooth decay. It also has less than one calorie per ½ teaspoon, which is roughly 10% of the calories in sugar. And since it isn't absorbed by your body in the same way as table sugar, those tiny amounts of calories don't have much of an impact. That's sweet! B Aware of B12 Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is naturally found in animal-based foods such as dairy, poultry, fish and shellfish. You need a daily supply of it for healthy nerve functioning throughout your body and brain, red blood cell production and DNA synthesis. You can get the recommended daily intake with a quarter cup of sardines or three ounces of salmon. It is also added to some cereals, nutritional yeast and soy and rice milk. Vegetarians and vegans need to ensure these products are adequately fortified since they don’t get a supply from animal products. Unfortunately many people—especially those over age 60—do experience B12 deficiency because they stop producing a factor in their stomachs that aids in absorption of the vitamin. A deficiency can also happen as a result of taking the diabetes medicine metformin; proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to treat acid reflux, GERD and peptic ulcers; and oral birth control pills. According to Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health, having a chronically low blood level of B12 may lead to fatigue, memory problems, depression and even dementia. A simple blood test can determine if you are deficient. To make sure they get the recommended daily value (DV) of B12, many people take a supplement. The optimal form is a methylcobalamin B12 tablet that dissolves under your tongue. Dozens of options are available at iHerb. Recipe: Magic Pancakes Found naturally in figs, raisins, and wheat, allulose’s powered form can be substituted more or less one-for-one in recipes (taste and adjust as you like). It browns and crystalizes just like regular sugar. [Get the Recipe]( This newsletter is not a substitute for your physician’s advice and the claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Please share it with them! [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Copyright © 2023 ZoCo Productions LLC, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you signed up for The Good Dish newsletter. Our mailing address is: ZoCo Productions LLC 555 W 57th St.New York, NY 10019 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.