Truvia, Nectresse, Ace-K, Aspartame and the rest

What to do to make stuff taste better?  That is the challenge to big food processors out there.  And it is a big challenge, most of the processed food that is on the market is loaded down with stabilizers, preservatives, fillers and OTHER processed food products; and all that stuff usually has some bad flavors and nasty aftertastes.  So, the solution, add something that adds sweetness and/or saltiness.  The salt part is easy, and cheap, just add salt.  Sweeteners, well, there are a myriad kinds of sweeteners out there, from honey (most expensive) to High Fructose Corn Syrup (relatively cheap) to Aspartame (CHEAP)

Here is my list of most toxic to most usable.

1.  Aspartame - The absolute worst most toxic sweetener on the market (Aspartame)  There are 92 side effects listed by the FDA including death.  Yet is is still available for the manufacturers to make buttloads of money on.  92, with death in there as well.  (Side Effects)

2. Sucralose -  Splenda is next on list to avoid.  (Splenda)

3. Acesulfame Potassium - or Ace-K, sold as Suneet and Sweet One.  The company website (Ace-K) states that over 90 studies have been done proving that this stuff is harmless.  Much the same as Number one and Numer two above make the same claims, every single one of the studies that they cite are short term 90 day studies.  The stuff contains methylene chloride, a known carcinogen.

4. High Fructose Corn Syrup - HFCS, a favorite subject for me to write about here (HFCS) (HMS)

5. Agave  -    Touted as the miracle sweetener, made from desert cacti and sweeter than sugar without the bad glycemic problems sugar causes.  What a load of poop.  Agave is nothing more than a different source for which manufacturers are able to make HFCS.   Hmm.  We should call it HFAS. (Agave)  It ain't pretty folks.

6.  Truvia/ Nectresse -  Stevia and Monk Fruit are the parent plants that these toxins are derived from.  But they are NOT all natural as the manufacturers claim. (Truvia)  Not as toxic as some, but still there.

7.  White Sugar -  Enhhhh, been around for centuries, modern stuff contains bleaching agents, and is usually just plain sucrose.  Not great for you, but better than all of the above.

8. Colored sugars - Brown, raw, turbinado sugars are pretty much just white sugar with molasses added back to them.  Stronger flavor, but still mostly just white sugar.

9.  Organic Evaporated Cane Juice. - They take sugar cane juice and run through an evaporator.  Pretty simple and better for you than anything above.

10.  Honey/Maple syrup - Yes I know, they are both pretty much fructose, but there is a chemical difference and these are digested and absorbed in a very different manner.  And they have no nasty chemicals added from manufacturing processes.  Much better choices.  

11. Stevia -  My favorite for tea.  I use plain stevia leaves, steep in hot water along with mint leaves, or green tea, or any herbs, and it is just fine.  Some people say that there is a licorice like aftertaste, but I have been drinking the stuff for thirty years and I don't notice it anymore.  There are a huge number of stevia extract products on the market, read the ingredients, if they contain erythritol or any other artificial ingredient, avoid it.  Make your own, buy the leaves, steep in water or alcohol. 

There are a bunch more, molasses, brown rice syrup, stuff like that.  Most are not that common, and in little use commercially or available for home use.  But I hope this guide helps, and helps you live long and prosper.