Sweet Secret to Cutting Carbs During the Holidays
– It is the season
of temptation. Office parties, cocktail receptions
and family gatherings all offer lots of opportunities
to stray from our healthy eating routines. But you
don’t need to skip the celebrations. Just keep
in mind a few guidelines that will help you stick
to your low carb resolution.
An estimated 80 million Americans have tried low-carb
diets and the number is expected to grow over the
next year as reports of their effectiveness spreads.
According to WebMD, there is now evidence that the
diets not only work, but are almost twice as effective
as low-fat diets.
“Cutting down on sugar
consumption is an important part of the success of
any low-carb diet,” says Jim May, founder of
SweetLeaf Stevia, the company that developed and markets
all-natural SteviaPlus. “One simple way to do
this is by using a sugar alternative at the table
and when baking. Stevia is accepted worldwide as the
only zero carbohydrate, zero calorie and zero glycemic
product of its kind.”
Sugar alternatives are everywhere,
but many of them are made from chemicals and are lacking
in flavor. Diet-conscious consumers are now demanding
better-tasting, natural alternatives to sugar that
will not add extra calories or carbs to food. Artificial
sweeteners are manufactured in test tubes. Stevia
started in a rain forest.
Low calorie but high glycemic
sweeteners such as Splenda, Equal and Sweet-N-Low
are sabotaging low-carb diets. The glycemic index
(GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates based on their
immediate effect on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates
that breakdown quickly during digestion have the highest
glycemic indexes. The blood glucose response is fast
and high. Carbohydrates that breakdown slowly, releasing
glucose gradually into the blood stream, have low
glycemic indexes. Low GI foods aid and inhibit weight
loss, improve the body's sensitivity to insulin, help
re-fuel carbohydrate stores after exercise, improve
diabetes control, keep the body fuller longer and
prolong physical endurance.
SweetLeaf SteviaPlus is additionally
unique because it is the only zero carb stevia product
on the market that contains added fiber, an important
part of any diet plan. Each packet provides 1 gram
of natural, soluble fiber. Typically people on low-carb
diets don’t get enough fiber and are continually
looking for supplemental fiber sources.
Because it is stable in hot
or cold foods, SteviaPlus works well as a flavoring
for all kinds of beverages and can be used instead
of sugar for most recipes. Stevia is safe for everyone,
including people with diabetes and is available in
convenient single-serving packets, liquid, powder,
tabs and concentrate. It is sold in health food stores,
natural food sections of grocery stores or online
at www.buywisdom.com.
SweetLeaf manufactures a full
line of stevia products.
