In the 1990's, it was fat. Until a few years ago, we made carbohydrates the scapegoat. Now we're getting specific and making sugar, a type of carb, the evildoer behind our country's weight problem and the saboteur behind our own health and fitness endeavors. Where fat-free foods flooded shelves only a decade ago, sugar-free foods--particularly desserts--now reside. Without doubt, eating less sugar is a natural way to control blood sugar (for diabetics) and weight for the rest of us, not to mention the highly processed sugar in today's foods probably harbors health effects we can't even yet imagine.
What to Look for
When you think about shopping for sugar-free desserts, keep in mind which artificial sweeteners you like most, because these desserts are all sweetened similarly. The widest used sweeteners are saccharine (Sweet'N Low), aspartame (Equal or NutraSweet) and sucralose (Splenda). Be sure to read sugar-free product labels to determine which artificial sweetener is used so you can be sure it will appeal to your personal tastes. Also, remember that there is a difference between "sugar-free" and "no added sugar" or "no impact carbs." If you want to avoid the empty calories of sugar altogether, look for products labeled "sugar-free." If it's the processed sugar you're worried about, feel free to eat "no sugar added" products that may use fruit extracts for sweetening. If you're diabetic, both "sugar free" and "no impact carb" foods will have a negligible effect on your blood sugar.
Common Pitfalls
Although some of these sugar-free desserts can indulge our sweet tooth without enlarging our waistline, there are some downsides. Although saccharine has been around for over 100 years, the FDA did conclude in 1977 that it is connected to cancer--particularly bladder cancer--and must be labeled with a warning. Similarly, aspartame and sucralose have been linked in independent studies to problems ranging from brain tumors to formaldehyde poisoning. The FDA has not even approved Stevia yet. Perhaps there is no "free ticket" to eating all the sugar-free products you want without paying a price, and perhaps sticking to those desserts devoid of added processed sugar but sweetened by natural fruit and plant sugars is the best bet.
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