Are Sugar Substitutes Really Healthier?

 By: Robin Amylon

Ever have one of those days (or if you’re like me maybe a couple hundred) where you just want to stuff your face with a big bowl of Ben & Jerry’s? It’s 8am on a Monday morning and the trains aren’t running because of track work or a police investigation. You can’t catch a cab and it’s pouring out. You get to school or work late, soaked because the wind was so crazy that your umbrella was pretty much useless. Then you get chewed out by your professor or boss for being late and you have a huge exam or meeting you didn’t prepare for. Everything is just a mess and you can’t seem to catch a break. You decide on the way home you deserve a treat to try to brighten up the horrible day you just had. You stop at the store and immediately go to the ice cream section. As you’re reaching for the Ben & Jerry’s “Chocolate Therapy” the Edy’s “No Sugar Added, Triple Chocolate” catches your eye. You compare the nutrition facts on both products and see that the Edy’s ice cream has half the calories and only 1/8 the sugar the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream has. You opt for the Edy’s choice without even giving it a second thought, feeling a little less guilty about cheating on your diet. After your first bite, you are presently surprised to find that the Edy’s ice cream is just as sweet as the Ben & Jerry’s and doesn’t taste that much different from regular ice cream. But how can that be if it only has 1/8 the amount of sugar? You check the nutrition facts again and notice “sucralose” and “sorbitol” in the ingredients list. You Google these names and find they are sugar substitutes. These sugar substitutes, as well as several others, have become quite popular over the past few decades due to the growing obesity epidemic and increasing need for finding alternative ways to satisfy our innate sweet tooth. There has been much controversy and concern in regards to these substances however that question whether or not they are safe to consume. Some argue they are carcinogenic. Others say these substances actually increase appetite and weight. Some even say they can negatively affect behavior and mood and can even be toxic. So did you really make the better choice? Are sugar substitutes really healthier than regular sugar? 

Saturday/5/4/2013

Main – CrossFit

View Public Whiteboard

Schmalls (Time) 

Run 800m
Then 2 Rounds of:
50 Burpees
40 Pull-ups
30 One-legged Squats
20 Kettlebell Swings, 1.5 pood
10 Handstand Pushups
Then,
Run 800m

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Justin E. Schmalstieg, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, assigned to the 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Camp Pendleton, California, died on December 15, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife Ann Schneider, parents John and Deborah Gilkey, and brother John.

DOUBLE UNDER-A-THON

What Kind of Difference Can You Make In 3 Minutes?

When: Saturday, May 4th
Time: 1pm
Where: Reebok CrossFit 5th Ave
What: MAX DUs in 3 minutes
Cost: $10.00 in advance, $15.00 day of the event *All proceeds go to YAI
Prizes:

• Rx custom rope for the top female AND male jumpers!
• Discount code for Rx ropes for ALL who participate.
• FREE registration into YAI’s famous Central Park Challenge 5k race on June 1st.
• Top Fundraiser recieves a supplement package from NutriForce Sports and a bottle of EVOO from Kasadrinos Extra Virgin Olive Oil, straight from the Southern Peloponnese (minimum fundraising of $30)
• There will also be 4 Yankees tickets being raffled off and various other surprises.

*Register HERE

Saturday- 4/27/2013

View Public Whiteboard

RJ (Time)

5 Rounds for time of:
800m Run
5 Rope Climbs, 15′
50 Push-ups

Veteran LAPD officer and United States Marine Corps Reservist Sergeant Major Robert J Cottle, 45, was killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. RJ joined the Marines at age 18, and the LAPD in 1990. His various LAPD assignments included Hollywood Vice, Southeast Area, LAPD Dive Team and, most recently, SWAT. He is survived by his wife Emily and 9 month old daughter Kaila. The LAPD established a trust fund for them.

It’s Social Time!!

Come out with all your favorite CrossFitters, to celebrate the completion of the CrossFit Games Open and the qualification of our team to Regionals.

Where: The Culture Club
When: Friday, April 26th
Time: Starts at 8pm
*Bring your friends!
*Drink specials from 8-10pm
   $5 bud/bud light
$5 margaritas
         $5 ninja turtle shots
*Tell the doorman you are here for the “CrossFit Happy Hour”