Artificial sweetener was first invented in 1965. With years of studies, there are still no proof of consuming sweetener could harm the human body or cause cancer. On the other hand, according to researches, moderate amount of sweetener could significantly reduce energy absorption and help weight control. Sweeteners can replace table sugar to avoid overweight and lower the blood glucose index, as they provide zero energy or close to zero energy. Therefore, it was allowed to be added to drinks and food in the US since 2000. EFSA and ACS have already removed claims of possibility of aspartame can cause cancer.  

 

There are two main categories of sweeteners, artificial sweetener and natural sweetener. Artificial sweetener is completely artificial with very low cost and much sweeter tastes than table sugar. Saccharin, Aspartame, Acesulfame-K etc, are usually added in soft drinks like Coke zero and Sprite.

 

Our Keto-friendly products used natural sweetener stevia made from a plant called stevia, which is 100 to 300 times more sweet than table sugar. Therefore, only little amount is used. It contains no calories and low glycemic index. According to recent studies, stevia is safe for the human body and has anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Hence, it is suitable for people with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

 

Reference: Mlambo, R., Wang, J., & Chen, C. (2022). Stevia rebaudiana, a Versatile Food Ingredient: The Chemical Composition and Medicinal Properties. Journal of Nanomaterials.

 

 

Nowadays, Hong Kong has around 70 million people are diagnosed with diabetes, which is 10% of the whole population, meaning 1 in every 10 people in Hong Kong have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes patients accounts for more than 90% of the diabetic population. There are increasing numbers of diabetic young people in recent years, mainly due to poor lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits.

Insulin is a hormone that responds to blood sugar and store glucose as glycogen in the body, which helps regulate blood glucose. However, blood sugar level rise when insulin dysfunction and can overload the kidney, so blood glucose will be excreted through urine. Diabetes is a chronic disease that is diagnosed when the blood glucose level is 11.1 mmol or above.

 

Types of diabetes include:

It is mainly caused by genetic factor. Immune system or viruses can affect the body to stop/produce insufficient amount of insulin and lead to diabetes.

 

It is caused by unhealthy lifestyle that lead to insulin resistance even the pancreas has produced sufficient amount of insulin.

 

Diagnosed in pregnant woman with no diabetes history, but the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin causing high blood glucose level.

 

General symptoms:

Frequent urine, thirst, increased appetite, weight loss, fatigue, itchy skin, blurred vision, slow wound healing, etc.

 

High risk groups:

Patients with history of impaired glucose regulation, age ≥45 years old, overweight, relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome patients with BMI ≥24.0kg/m2 , patients with severe psychosis and long-term treatment with antidepressants

 

 

Table salt is produced by steaming salt water or underground salt mine. Through a refined process to remove impurities, which also removes natural minerals. Some companies would add anticaking agent to keep the salt in a crystal condition.

While Himalayan rock salt has lower sodium than table salt. 1 teaspoon of table salt contains 2360 mg of sodium, whereas Himalayan salt contains only 1690 mg of sodium per teaspoon, which means it can reduced one third of sodium absorption. Moderate intake of Himalayan salt can significantly reduce the burden on kidneys. It also provides minerals that were lack in table salt, as it contains over 84 types of minerals and trace elements such as zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, etc., that can help detoxifying the body and maintain various internal functions.