Substitute Teacher

My foreword to this entry:  With our society being so concerned about the negative effects of anything we use, isn't it time to start focusing on the positive aspects of things?  Who really wants to waste their energy worrying about the negative implications of having one diet coke?  I'm sure there are people who don't use cell phones because of the claims that doing so will cause brain cancer.  Honestly, if that is true then I will see every single one of you real soon in a cellular heaven 'cause we are as good as gone!  I make light of these things but do understand that there are some legitimate concerns to how we treat our bodies.  The things I talk about here are somewhat controversial but have been researched in depth only to find a slight possibility that they are bad.  Well there is a greater possibility that they are good!  I wanted to write a quick piece on salt and sugar substitutes.  Many people ask me ways to cut calories and to make their diet more healthful so I wanted to give you my opinion.  These are my opinions and techniques that I have used to make myself healthier.  If I fall out while talking on my phone with a diet coke in one hand and low blood pressure, so be it.  The conclusive factual evidence surrounding the detrimental effects of sugar and sodium far outweighs the inconclusive research done on their counterparts.  I want to present to you my opinion in hopes that it may help you form your own. 

First off, our bodies need sodium (salt) and our American diets are usually more than adequate in supplying enough sodium for regulation body processes.  The recommended daily intake of Sodium is less than 2300mg for adults under the age of 51 and 1500mg for adults 51 or older.  Just to give you a reference point, a Big Mac has around 1070mg of Sodium and a 6 inch cold Cut Trio from Subway has around 1340mg with cheese, a few veggies, and no sauces (http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/menu/other_favorites/cold_cut_combo/#).  So if I eat a footlong Cold Cut, I'm basically good on Sodium for the day.  So how can I help myself?  First step, LIMIT FAST FOOD!!!  I am preaching to the choir here because anyone who knows me knows that I would put a Taco Bell in my house if I could.  However, when I want to get in really good shape, I have to deny myself on the way home from work or after a late night out.  Second step: I found a great sodium substitue to use at home.  My wife and I have been using it for about 3 years now and can't tell a difference.  It is called "No Salt" (http://www.amazon.com/Sodium-Free-NoSalt-Granules-Substitute/dp/B000GG0FNK) and is a potassium based substitute for salt.  You can find it at any grocery around the spices.  We put it in our salt shakers and use it just like we would salt.  I won't go into detail about the disadvantages of sodium intake (high blood pressure, water retention, kidney problems) but this substitute will help to alleviate those problems. 
  

Now for sugar, everyone's favorite.  There seem to be no confirmed recommended intakes of sugar.  Our bodies get natural sugar from fruits and vegetables among other things so they don't need us adding excess sugar to our diets, but what fun is that?!  Splenda is my substitute of choice here.  Just like Sweet-n-Low, Splenda has plenty of critics.  The fact is that compared to sugar Splenda wins the calorie battle.  If a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pie was made with Splenda, it would save you 27 grams of sugar and around 110 calories.  (There are 4 calories in every gram of sugar).  Is the taste of sugar really worth that?  Like "No Salt", we use Splenda as a full substitute for sugar; in coffee, cookies, oatmeal, etc.  They even have a brown sugar blend which takes away even more excuses! 

    As I mentioned before, anyone trying to lose weight should take in fewer calories than they burn.  Using these substitutes allows you to still enjoy the foods you like but saves you calories and health problems.  Excessive Sodium and sugar kill people everyday, is this switch not worth trying out?  Let me know your opinions too...

Warning!!!: Reading this blog may cause you to grow into a Smurf