Natural sweeteners like Stevia not only contain 0 calories while still retaining a sweet taste, but they have also been found to prevent and reverse conditions like diabetes that currently affect over 105 million individuals nationwide. However, the benefits don’t stop there. Stevia, unlike fructose — particularly high-fructose corn syrup, does not feed cancer cells. By replacing refined dietary sugar with Stevia and thus eliminating the very ingredient in which cancer cells thrive upon, cancer rates would plummet.
Fructose is also to blame for skyrocketing obesity rates. According to CDC reports, over 70 million Americans are currently obese. Princeton researchers have found that high-fructose corn syrup plays a major role, prompting considerably more weight gain than even regular refined sugar. Of course refined sugar alone packs on the pounds, pinpointing high-fructose corn syrup as a super-potent form of fructose that has been found to contain extremely toxic mercury — a heavy metal linked to cancer. Replacing both forms of sugar with Stevia would mean not only is there no increase in fat gain, but there is also an added resistance to diseases such as diabetes. Virtually the opposite of sugar.
So why aren’t we utilizing Stevia over fat-promoting ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup?
High-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners are very cheap for manufacturers to mass produce. These manufacturers are people who often disregard the health consequences that go along with inserting them in the nation’s food supply. While there are some health-conscious companies utilizing Stevia as a natural sweetener, many still stick to fructose and even more harmful sweeteners like aspartame and MSG.
It is very possible to combat the soaring cancer and obesity rates within the United States and elsewhere, but we will need to first see a change in the desires of consumers. As more individuals become conscious to the issue, they will start demanding natural sweeteners in place of fructose, and companies will be forced to respond if they want to continue to do business. Activism will be key in the transformation, in addition to the spread of information. Spread the word about natural sweeteners, and do your own research on the subject. Obesity and cancer are not normal health problems, and individuals affected with these conditions should know their options.
