----- Original Message -----

From: H. Bruce Downey

To: Hugh Wang

Cc: Punky Stevens '52 ; Austin Swartz, 52 ; Malcolm Ing, M.D. ; Carolyne Larson Jordan

Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 9:29 PM

Subject: Fw: Splenda and Glycemic Index

Hi Hugh--- There is some confusion among our number about the artificial sweeteners (1) Splenda vs. (2) Stevia.

 

Here's what I've posted (quoted in part) from the "Junk Food"  tab at "The York '52 Weight Room".  It's taken from an e-mail of yours dated April 11th--- at the very bottom...where you apparently had taken a break...then came back to write me about these two artificial sweeteners:---

___________________________________________

 

Bruce, I'm back to talk about Splenda which itself is not bad.  It was approved by the FDA which tested it as a natural sweetener which I am trying to grow in my back yard having ordered it from a mail-order nursery.  It is struggling, and I'm not sure if it doesn't like my heavy clay dirt or if I'm not watering enough or too much.  It is sweeter than sugar, and fast became a favorite for diabetics.  A cup of coffee requires only a twentieth of a teaspoon.  Here's where the fraud occurs.  After the approval, the company added sugar to bulk up the packet to a teaspoon or more, so now what was okay for diabetics and obese patients with omental baggage is now causing insulin/leptin resistance and rises in blood sugar.  The company markets it as "made from sugar" without the downside of sugar.  Boo!

 

Stevia has nothing added to it, and you use a tiny spoon about the size of a quarter of a little fingernail to equal a teaspoon of sugar.  It can be found at health food stores and I think Trader Joe's.  It will not raise your blood sugar or anyone else's.  You can cook with it.

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In talking to my Nancy about it, she says you cannot "grow" Splenda--- which is a chemical compound--- but you can grow Stevia--- since it grows quite naturally as a plant...and the Stevia we buy so readily in our grocery stores as an artificial sweetener is all produced from the leaf of the Stevia plant.

 

Secondly, Stevia is sold separately as a stand-alone, "no sugar" added product.  But you can buy it with "sugar added."  And when it's sold with sugar added it's name becomes Truvia. --- note:--- Splenda may(?) also be sold "with sugar added" in which case it too may be sold under a different name--- or is that the whole point to our discussion?--- that Splenda adds sugar and doesn't even tell us?  I just don't know. 

 

Lastly, I got this note from Austin Swartz '52 with a cc to Carolyne Larson Jordan '52--- see Austin's complete e-mail below. NOTE:  I believe the "Blondie"   Austin refers to here as selling "Body Wise Products" is one-in-the-same-as Carolyne Larson Jordan '52.  Austin's e-mail reads in part as follows:----

"Splenda: According to the ingredient and nutrition data on the package,

               the ingredients are Maltodextrin and Sucralose, neither of

              which are sugar. The nutrition data says that the calories are 0,

              which would be impossible if it contained sugar. So if Splenda

              really contains sugar, they are sneaking it in without admitting

              it on the package."

____________________________________________________________________

 

So which is to become our artificial sweetener of choice?--- Splenda or Stevia...and why?

 

Thanks for clearing this up for us, Hugh.

 

...Bruce**********

 

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----- Original Message -----

From: Austin

To: H. Bruce Downey

Cc: Carolyne Jordan

Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 6:49 PM

Subject: Splenda and Glycemic Index

Hi Bruce,

 

    I hope all is well w/you. Here is a little info on the subjects above.

Splenda: According to the ingredient and nutrition data on the package,

               the ingredients are Maltodextrin and Sucralose, neither of

              which are sugar. The nutrition data says that the calories are 0,

              which would be impossible if it contained sugar. So if Splenda

              really contains sugar, they are sneaking it in without admitting

              it on the package.

 

Glycemic  My resource book on this is "The New Glucose Revolution"

Index:       by Rodale Books, rodalestore.com  800-848-4735

                

                 Basically, the glycemic index is a measurement of how rapidly

                 a food is converted into sugar and absorbed into the blood

                 stream when it is digested. The higher the number, the faster

                 the sugar goes into the blood stream. If a food item generates

                 sugar rapidly, the level in the blood elevates, causing the pan-

                  creas to shoot lots of insulin which quickly eats up the sugar.

                 After this happens, the amount of sugar can drop dramatically

                  before the pancreas gets the clue to back off. Meanwhile,you

                  can feel tired and/or hungry due to the drop in the quantity of

                  sugar in the blood, so you eat some more, which starts the

                  cycle all over again =putting on weight and over-taxing the

                  pancreas and other body functions.

 

                  Almost all foods have a glycemic index, but some, like beef

                  and some other meats are 0, even though they contain fat.

                  Many vegetables, such as broccoli, are also 0. Most fruits

                   and veggies have low indices. So does milk. Most cereals

                  except oat products have high indices, and so do most

                 breads. Basmati rice is preferred over other rice's.

 

                  By studying the G I tables and other factors such as fat, fiber

                  and vitamin contents, you can plan a diet that will keep your

                  body functioning smoothly, and your weight under control,

                  especially if you also use the Body Wise products that

                  Blondie sells.

 

                 I hope this helps, and I REALLY appreciate your interest in

                 keeping us as healthy as possible.

 

                                                Take care, Austin/Pancho