All low-calorie sweeteners contribute no or very few calories to foods and beverages.
Each has undergone extensive safety testing which has been carefully reviewed by the
Food and Drug Administration. The scientific data clearly demonstrate that low-calorie
sweeteners are not linked to any adverse health reactions. In the United States, the FDA
investigates complaints from consumers. It has stated that there are no causal relation-
ships between dietary use of low-calorie sweeteners and alleged adverse reactions.
Acesulfame potassium
Acesulfame potassium or acesulfame K as it is abbreviated on food labels, is calorie-free
and about 200 times sweeter than sugar. Acesulfame K is highly stable and has been
approved for use in a wide variety of foods, beverages and baked products. Acesulfame
potassium is not broken down by the body and is eliminated without providing any calories.
Aspartame
Aspartame is a very low-calorie sweetener and is about 200 times sweeter than sugar.
It is made by joining two amino acids, aspartic acid and the methyl ester of phenylalanine.
The components of aspartame are also found naturally in common foods, including meat,
dairy products, fruits and vegetables. After ingestion, aspartame is broken down to its
components and utilized by the body in the same way as when derived in much larger
amounts from common foods.
Although aspartame is widely used in foods and beverages, is not recommended for use in
recipes that require lengthy heating or baking time, because of a loss of sweetness. It may,
however, be added at the end of the cooking cycle in many recipes.
Persons with a rare hereditary disease known as phenylketonuria (PKU) must control their
intake of phenylalanine from all sources, including aspartame. Although aspartame contains
only a small amount of phenylalanine, labels of aspartame-containing foods and beverages
must include a statement advising phenylketonurics of the presence of phenylalanine.
Saccharin
Saccharin is calorie-free and about 300 times sweeter than sugar. Because saccharin is
stable when heated, it is suitable for foods, beverages and in cooking and baking. It is
not broken down by the body and is eliminated without providing any calories.
Decades ago, there were questions about whether saccharin could cause bladder cancer,
based on animal studies. Numerous follow-up studies with animals and humans have shown
no overall association between saccharin consumption and cancer incidence. Recently,
the federal government removed saccharin from a list of potential cancer-causing agents.
For the time being, labels on products with saccharin must include a statement that
saccharin has caused cancer in laboratory animals.
Sucralose
Sucralose is calorie-free and is approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is made
from sugar through a patented, multi-step process. Sucralose is highly stable and can
be used in foods, beverages and in cooking and baking. Sucralose is not recognized
by the body as sugar or carbohydrate. It is not broken down by the body and is eliminat-
ed without providing any calories.
Polyols
Polyols (or sugar alcohols) are another group of reduced-calorie
sweeteners that contain some calories. Polyols are found naturally
in berries, apples, plums, and other foods, but are manufactured
from carbohydrates for use in sugar-free candies, cookies, chewing
gums and other reduced-calorie foods. Familiar names of polyols
include sorbitol, mannitol and isomalt.
Since polyols are partially, but not completely broken down by the
body, they provide, on average, half the calories of sugar and other
carbohydrates. Some polyols, such as sorbitol, may produce gas
and discomfort in the stomach and may cause diarrhea in some
people when large amounts are consumed. As a result, foods with
a significant amount of certain polyols bear the statement,
“Excess consumption may have a laxative effect.”
Share on Facebook
April 18th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
To Your Health! |
no comments
Ingredients:
1 pint raspberry sherbet
1 pint lime sherbet
1 Angel Food Cake Loaf (store bought, approx. 7”L x 3 3/4 W”)
Topping:
2 cups heavy whipping cream**
3 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
** May substitute a 12 ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions: Line two bread pans, approximately the same size as the angel food cake, with plastic wrap. Soften the sherbet; scoop lime sherbet in one pan and raspberry sherbet in the other. Spread the sherbet with a metal spatula dipped in hot water. Sherbet should be approximately ½-inch deep. Refreeze the sherbet in the pans for at least 1 hour or until hard.
Trim edges of the angel food cake to even them; cut the angel food cake in three lengthwise slices.
Remove frozen lime and raspberry sherbet from freezer. Alternate layers; cake, sherbet, cake, sherbet and cake. Cut off any oversized sherbet or cake to insure that cake and sherbet are even on all sides of the cake. Refreeze until solid; can be frozen up to 3 days if wrapped well in plastic wrap.
Before serving, prepare the cake topping by whipping the cream until thick. Add sugar and lemon juice and whip mixture until soft peaks form. Spread whipped cream on cake. Refreeze cake until ready to serve.
Remove cake from freezer and let soften 5 to10 minutes. Slice with an electric knife. If desired, place cake slices on pools of strawberry or raspberry sauce and top with lemon twist and mint.
Nutrition: One serving provides approximately: 338 calories, 4 g protein, 47 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 16 g fat (10 g saturated), 57 mg cholesterol, 19 mcg folate, 0 mg iron, 292 mg sodium.
Source: Wheat Foods Council
Share on Facebook
April 16th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
Kitchen Creations |
no comments
› FDA has announced that at least 23 people in 14 states have been diagnosed with salmonellosis caused by the same strain of Salmonella found in the recently recalled unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals produced by Malt-O-Meal. The recalled products were distributed nationally under the Malt-O-Meal brand name as well as under private-label brands including
Acme, America’s Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality. The cereals have “Best If Used By” dates from April 8, 2008 (coded as “APR0808″) through March 18, 2009 (coded as “MAR1809″).
Consumers should throw out any product in their homes from these recalled lots.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01819.html
Share on Facebook
April 14th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
Food Facts |
no comments
Found a scrumptious sounding recipe on a fellow cooking bloggers web site I just had to share and am going to try myself. Do check this out if you fall into the chocoholic category!
Culinary Obsessed: No Pudge Fudge Pie
Share on Facebook
April 14th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
Kitchen Creations |
no comments
Ref Sky News: Man Loses 140 Pounds Eating More Than Half-Ton of Baked Beans
I’m not sure how this diet would affect a person, but I know I’d be terrified to try it (can anyone say pass the beano??).
In any event, kudo’s to this man for all that weight he lost. If it worked for him, who’s to argue? So what say you? Could you could practice a diet like this?
Share on Facebook
April 12th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
To Your Health! |
no comments
Time is ticking on the miracle diets, the untested, the untrue. Now you can look at weight loss differently.
alli is the only FDA approved, over-the-counter weight loss product. But it’s more than just a pill. It’s an innovative weight loss program. The pill works by preventing your body from absorbing some of the fat you eat. And the program includes an individually tailored, online action plan to help you lose weight safely and gradually.
What makes alli different?FDA approval makes alli different. And the customized plan was designed for use with alli capsules to give you the support you need to succeed with weight loss.With your hard work and alli, you can lose about 50% more weight than with just dieting alone. That means if you could lose 10 pounds through dieting, you could lose 15 with alli. So what’s myalliplan?
Losing weight is easier with support. That’s why the alli program includes an individually tailored action plan called myalliplan. When you purchase alli and register online, you’ll get a free customized action plan.When you check in online, you’ll receive immediate feedback and specific guidance, developed by weight management experts.When you’re not online, you can still partner with alli when you use the portable reference guides inside the alli starter pack. They include the “Read Me First” Guide, Welcome Guide, Companion Guide, Calorie and Fat Counter, Healthy Eating Guide, Daily Journal, and Quick Facts Cards — the tools you need to be successful with alli.
Can I do this? Absolutely. If you’re willing to challenge yourself, to do things differently, then you can experience weight loss success. But if you aren’t committed to limiting your fat intake and calories as part of the program, then you shouldn’t buy alli. Not right now. If the timing isn’t right for you, come back to gotalli.com in the future to learn more about alli.
For more information visit: GotAlli.com
Share on Facebook
April 9th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
Weightloss Wisdom |
no comments
Apple cider vinegar is a muscle reliever; it helps to draw lactic acid (the stuff that causes soreness) out of your muscles after exercise. Saturate a cloth with apple cider vinegar and wrap it around the muscle for 20 minutes; the pain should disappear within a few hours. Reapply every three to four hours for continued relief until the pain is gone for good. Apple cider vinegar can also aid in weight loss. See: Cider Vinegar by Vitabase.
Share on Facebook
April 9th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
Fit Facts |
no comments
At FDA’s request, U.S. marshals have seized more than $1.3 million of dietary supplements from Michigan-based LG Sciences, LLC. These products — marketed and distributed online and in retail stores under the names “Methyl 1-D,” “Methyl 1-D XL,” and “Formadrol Extreme XL” –contain unapproved food additives or ingredients that cause the products to violate the law. Labeled as dietary supplements, the products are marketed for use by body builders.
Read more…
Also noteworthy this week are a few food recalls:
› Harry and David Chocolate Covered Select Blend Espresso Beans, 8-oz. size
Reason for recall: milk component not declared on package
› HC Fresh Frozen Salted Croaker (distributed in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Texas)
Reason for recall: possible Clostridium botulinum contamination
› Unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat, marketed under the Malt-O-Meal brand and other private labels, with “Best If Used By” dates between April 8, 2008 (coded as “APR0808″), and March 18, 2009 (coded as “MAR1809″)
Reason for recall: possible Salmonella contamination
Share on Facebook
April 7th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
To Your Health! |
no comments
Dieting naturally lowers your metabolism in two ways.
- When you restrict calories, your body responds in order to conserve energy. This causes a drop in metabolism, or the number of calories you burn just to exist. The effects are temporary however, because successful dieting means weight loss and a permanently lower metabolism because you need less energy to support less weight. Your metabolism will lower by the same percent as the weight you’ve lost. Some find that their metabolism ends up lower than it should be, which can lead to weight regain. The reason is due to muscle loss. Therefore, you of course, want to keep your lean muscle mass, which brings weight lifting into the picture. You need not turn into a power lifter – just use your muscles, challenge them a bit and keep them strong. This will aid in keeping your metabolism in sync with your weight loss.
- Secondly, but equally as important, skip fad diets. They tend to make you drop weight too fast, thereby causing far too much loss in calorie-burning muscle mass instead of fat. This is a dangerous and possibly deadly trap to fall into, for each time you follow a diet that causes rapid weight loss, you are putting your muscles into jeopardy and sinking your metabolism lower. Each time you put your body through this, you have less muscle to burn fat with and more weight to lose. When you regain weight, you replace the lost muscle with fat. This is a much misunderstood and by many, unknown fact of dieting that could save many years of unwanted diet frustration. On any diet, never try to lose more than two pounds a week. See also: Lift Weight to Lose Weight
Share on Facebook
April 7th, 2008
Posted by
fitnfree |
Fit Facts |
no comments
