America's Most Fattening 'Diet' Drinks

Read Yahoo's latest article on America's Most Fattening 'Diet' Drinks & their picks for healthy, low calorie alternatives. You can make delicious zero calorie beverages by adding ZSweet® to your favorite hot or iced tea or coffee. My favorite is iced peppermint tea with ZSweet®.

photo credit: Yahoo

ZSweet®, perfect for pilates & ripped bodies

Fitness Nutritionist, Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor, Jodie A. Fontenot recently reviewed ZSweet® on her website jodiepilates.com. She commented on the fact that ZSweet® does not have an aftertaste or cause bloating like other sweeteners & that when she baked with it "you really would not know a sugar substitute was used" her "banana bread and muffins were quite delicious."

 If you live in the Houston, TX area & would like to contact Jodie about personal training, pilates or nutrition visit her website for her services & rates. You can also sign up for her newsletter to receive tips & recipes.

Adventures with Tea & ZSweet®...

Alan & Marlys Arnold are tea connoisseurs who invite you to join their Tea Explorers Club & host Tea Tasting Adventures for your friends & family.  The Arnolds have crafted a variety of delicious flavors like: Crème de la Crème Brûlée, Vanilla Spice Chai, Chocolate Mint Bliss, Grandma's Pumpkin Pie & many, many more!

In addition to traditionally sipping tea, they encourage & educate you on using tea in cooking as well. They also recommend using all natural ZSweet® to sweeten your tea beverages & tea infused foods. Visit their site to shop & view recipes here.  

Must See! Sugar: The Bitter Truth

This one and a half hour video is well worth your time. "Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, explores the damage caused by sugary foods. He argues that fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin."

Lustig thoroughly illuminates the scientific reasons why all sugar & specifically fructose; which is the most insidious ingredient bombarding our diet & our bodies at every meal; are poisons & should be avoided at all costs to prevent obesity & disease.

Lip smacking treats for diabetics that ensure insulin spikes

I came across an article today by an author who says he is a dietician specializing in diabetic diets. But under natural sweeteners he recommends agave nectar, honey, barley malt syrup, maple syrup, & sugar cane juice right along side stevia. No, no, no, no, no.

Stevia, like ZSweet® (erythritol), is an all natural zero calorie, zero glycemic sweetener. Caloric sweeteners & sugar substitutes with a glycemic impact should not be grouped with Stevia or ZSweet® as if we're comparing apples to apples. It misleads the consumer into thinking they're all the same & can be consumed without monitoring calories or GI. Those other sweeteners may be all natural, but they are not the safest option for people with diabetes & responsible authors should publish nutrition values for their readers, especially diabetic readers, when making recommendations.

Agave Nectar - 60 calories / 15 glycemic index
Barley Malt Syrup - 60 calories / 42 glycemic index
Honey - 64 calories / 30 glycemic index
Maple Syrup - 52 calories / 54 glycemic index
Sugar Cane Juice - 25 calories / 43 glycemic index
Stevia - 0 calories / 0 glycemic index
ZSweet® (erythritol) - 0.2 calories / 0 glycemic index
(see links to for average serving sizes)

ABC News: Robert H. Lustig discusses the dangers of fructose

ZSweet® Rebate

Want to save when you shop for ZSweet®? Click on the mail-in rebate form to enlarge it to print size, then follow the instructions & get money back on ZSweet®!

*for retail purchases only, not applicable to online purchases.

Christine Avanti's ZSweet® Blueberry Muffins

In her recent article, 'New Sugar Alternative Backed by Respected MDs' "Top Los Angeles Nutritionist & Healthy Chef" Christine Avanti adds endorsement to Dr's Andrew Weil & Nicholas Perricone's recommendation for ZSweet® as a healthy alternative to sugar & artificial sweeteners.

Type in your name & email address & get access to her recipe for healthy sugar-free & dairy-free blueberry muffins made with ZSweet®. They're a remarkably low 97 calories compared to similar store bought blueberry muffins that were 380 calories! Gotta love that.

Learn more about Christine Avanti here.
  

photo credit: christineavanti.com

Agave, Far Worse Than High Fructose Corn Syrup

Here at Zero Worries Foods, Inc. we have found that the majority of people, even the health conscious, are under the impression that agave nectar is an all natural zero calorie sweetener, it's not. Many are consuming agave in large quantities unaware of the actual calories per serving; 16 calories per teaspoon, the same as table sugar (sucrose).

Besides the calories, agave adds more fructose to an average daily diet that is already bombarded by fructose in juice, soda, bread, cereal & other common foods. That much fructose can overload the liver & turn into fat & have other health implications.

In a recent article by Dr. Joseph Mercola he educates consumers in greater detail about agave (fructose) & highlights "two overall reasons fructose is so damaging:
Your body metabolizes fructose in a much different way than glucose. Fructose is broken down in your liver just like alcohol and produces many of the side effects of chronic alcohol use, right down to the "beer belly".
People are consuming fructose in quantities that are 400-800 percent higher than they were 100 years ago due to its pervasive presence in just about all processed foods."
Read the full article here.

We recommend cutting out caloric sweeteners & beverages & limiting sugar - whether fructose, glucose or sucrose as much as possible. ZSweet® is a natural, truly zero calorie way to do just that. Compare the differences of agave nectar & ZSweet® here.

ZSweet®, Ashley Koff Approved!

On April 25, 2010 ZSweet® become an Ashley Koff Approved food & is currently being used as her sweetener of choice for craft services on the production of several popular TV series. Learn more about Ashley below.

"Ashley Koff is a registered dietitian (R.D.) who strives to make better nutrition a way of life for all. Koff has the proven ability to demystify the science of nutrition and communicate the importance of a healthy lifestyle to clients in a way that instills loyalty and trust. Never preachy, Koff's clients truly admire her gentle and patient way of finding the correct and effective nutritional program to suit their individual needs. Her passionate style is effective, resulting in Koff being named by Citysearch as LA's "Best Nutritionist" three years running and a national media favorite. Koff appears monthly on Good Morning America Health and as the lead expert for HuffPost Living's 'Total Energy Makeover' with Ashley Koff RD; selected as Hollywood's Dietitian, InStyle magazine featured Koff's work in their coveted December (2009) issue."

ZSweet® Now Available at Vitaminshoppe.com

"Dedicated to helping people fulfill their health and wellness needs, the Vitamin Shoppe is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of nutritional products ranging from vitamins and minerals to nutritional supplements, herbs, sports nutrition formulas, homeopathic remedies, and health and beauty aids. The Vitamin Shoppe offers over 20,000 items from more than 400 of the most trusted brand names in Health & Wellness, Sports Nutrition, Weight Management, and Personal Care." 

ZSweet® is available at over 400 Vitamin Shoppe locations nationwide & is now conveniently available at vitaminshoppe.com.

Thick, Creamy Sugar-free Frozen Yogurt

by Carolyn Ketchum

 Ingredients:
3 cups greek-style yogurt*
3/4 cup granulated ZSweet®
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
OR
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Preparation:
In a medium bowl, mix yogurt, Zsweet® and vanilla or lemon zest, until Zsweet® is dissolved.  Chill for at least one hour. Pour into ice-cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's directions.

*If you cannot find greek-style yogurt, strain regular yogurt by placing in a colander lined with paper towels or coffee filters for 6 to 8 hours.  It will require 6 cups of regular yogurt to make 3 cups of greek-style.

photo credit: sikegami

Added Sugar Linked to Heart Disease

A study published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that a high fat diet isn't the only cause for potential heart problems. A high sugar diet is also dangerous. Added sugars in packaged foods like ice cream & cereal can contribute risk factors for heart disease by increasing triglycerides & decreasing the good cholesterol HDL. It is important to read nutrition labels and avoid foods & beverages that contain a high sugar content per serving.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It is also important to note that although honey & agave are natural sweeteners, they still contribute calories to the diet & can have the same effect as sugar in the body. You want to count your calories when using these sugar alternatives. Or you can use ZSweet® which is both all natural & zero calories & not worry about counting anything. ;)

Click to read article: "Higher Consumption of Dietary Added Sugars Associated With Unfavorable Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels".

Savvy's Sugar-free Strawberry Cheesecake

I spotted this yummy cheesecake made with ZSweet® posted by Molly on 24Savvy.com, an online "community dedicated to providing members with tools for savvier living." 

Click here to here for the recipe & share your feedback with us.

"Agave not an ideal sugar substitute"

Watch video

We've found that many health conscious consumers are under the wrong impression about agave nectar. While it is all natural and lower glycemic than table sugar, it is not zero calories, and being that it is entirely fructose, it is not metabolized by the entire body, but instead is processed only by the liver, which if consumed in excess can lead to health problems.

We felt it was important to share this recent news article & video which illuminates the facts about agave which many people are using as if it were a zero calorie sweetener, when in reality it is closer to honey & needs to be used in moderation.

1 tbsp. agave - 60 calories / 32 Glycemic Index
1 tbsp. sugar - 48 calories / 68 Glycemic Index
1 tbsp. ZSweet® - 0 calories / 0 Glycemic Index

credit: ABC News

"Sweet Sugarless Baking NATURALLY"

View recipes here.

ZSweet® Cocoa Cream Cheese Mints

yields 50-60 mints

Ingredients:
1 cup ZSweet®, ground to powder (I do this in the coffee grinder)
2 tablespoons cocoa*
few drops of mint oil (to taste)
4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
addtl. 1/4 cup ZSweet®, ground to powder, for rolling mints in

*Note: If you leave out the cocoa, be sure to add a pinch spirulina or 1 teaspoon ground mint leaves for green color

Equipment you will need:
bowl
wire whisk / 2 forks / pastry cutter
wax paper lined baking sheet
flexible molds or a rolling pin
small container (to shake mints in)


Mix 1 cup ground ZSweet® and cocoa together in a medium-sized bowl. Cut in cream cheese with a wire whisk or a couple of forks (or a pastry cutter, if you have one). The resultant mix will be dry and crumbly. At this stage, mix in the mint oil to taste and knead the mixture with your fingers until it starts to clump up into a dough (the heat from your hands helps to further soften the cream cheese).

Once you have one big ball of dough, pinch off pieces to put in your flexible molds and fill them, one at a time, mashing them in well, and scraping off the excess. If you do not have molds, you can also roll out the dough onto wax paper with a rolling pin till about .25" thick and cut into 1" squares with a butter knife.

Take the small container and put the 1/4 cup of powdered ZSweet® into it. Pop out a few mints at a time into the container and shake until well-coated, and tap each coated mint against a flat surface (I use the container lid) to release any extra ZSweet®. Lay each mint onto the wax paper-lined baking sheet in rows. When all the mints are finished, cover with a dry cloth and let sit for 24-48 hours to dry out completely. Put in a sealed container and store in the fridge (if they have not dried out yet, the container will get condensation on the inside of the lid). They will last in the fridge for a couple weeks, or can be frozen for up to 6 months.

Recipe Author: Paula Bishop, North Carolina

March Whole Foods Raw Vegan Cooking Class

Stop by any of these local Southern California Whole Foods Markets to sample ZSweet® this month & be sure to attend Kelly Keough's Raw Vegan Cooking Class on Wednesday, March 31st at 6 pm. She'll be teaching students how to make Chocolate Hemp Ice Cream Smoothies & Wheat Grass Pineapple Sorbet!


3/1 Mon: 11-2 pm - 2201 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica - Demo
3/3 Weds: 4-7 pm - 3751 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena - Demo
3/5 Fri: 11-2 pm 7871 West Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles - Demo

3/7 Sun: 2-5 pm - 331 N Glendale Ave, Glendale - Demo
3/8 Mon: 4-7 pm - 19340 Rinaldi St, Northridge - Demo
3/24 Weds: 11-2 pm - 740 N Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks -Demo
3/25 Thur: 4-7 pm - 24130 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita - Demo

3/29 Mon: 11-2 pm - 239 N Crescent Dr, Beverly Hills - Demo

3/30 Tues: 11-2 pm - 11666 National Blvd, Los Angeles - Demo

3/31 Weds: 6 pm - 21347 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills - CLASS

Sugar-free Cookies, Hot Chocolate & Whipped Cream

Inspired Living Expert & TV Host Leah Guy just released a special ZSweet® episode on her official site. In the video Leah & co-host, Jim O'Connor of the Food Network, mix up sugar-free hot chocolate almond milk, with sugar-free whipped cream from scratch on top (I suggest using a mixer instead of whisking it by hand) & a warm batch of "sugar" cookies made with ZSweet® to take to the streets for live reactions from people out & about. The public & the hosts unanimously agreed that they love ZSweet®!

Watch the video here.

Try these yummy ZSweet® recipes at home....
Sugar-free "Sugar" Cookies

2 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup ZSweet
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)

2. Sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, ZSweet and salt.

3. Cut in butter and blend with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Stir in
lightly beaten egg, vanilla and cream. Blend well. Chill dough for one hour for easier
rolling.

4. On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes. Place on
ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with ZSweet.

5. Bake for 6 – 8 minutes, or until lightly brown.

(I also sprinkled ZSweet packets on top of cookies after cool!)

Sugar-free & Dairy-free Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream

Cocoa
1/4 cup ZSweet® granulated
6-10 ZSweet® supersweet packets (add to taste)
32 oz. unsweetened chocolate Almond Breeze® almond milk

Directions: Add ZSweet® to taste & stir. Heat in a pan on stove over a low-medium setting. Pour & serve! Top with sugar-free whipped cream.

Whipped Cream
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup ZSweet® granulated
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions
Pour heavy cream in a medium bowl and beat with electric beater until cream becomes stiff. Add ZSweet® and vanilla and continue beating until consistency and taste become whipped cream.

photo credit: leahguy.com

February Gluten-free / Sugar-free with Kelly Keough

Join Kelly at Whole Foods Markets in Southern California for hands on training in gluten & sugar-free "baking". Taste for yourself the surprisingly delightful results of Kelly's creative & simple alternatives to popular foods we know & love.

2/4, Thurs: 4-7 pm - 7871 West Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles - Demo

2/5, Fri: 11-2 pm - 6350 W 3rd St, Los Angeles - Demo
2/8, Mon: 11-2 pm - 239 N Crescent Dr, Beverly Hills - Demo

2/11, Thurs: 11-2 pm - 3751 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena - Demo
2/12, Fri: 11-2 pm - 21347 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills - Demo

2/16, Tues: 4-7 pm - 19340 Rinaldi St, Northridge - Demo

2/18, Thurs: 11-2 pm - 11666 National Blvd, Los Angeles - Demo

2/23, Tues: 4-7 pm - 331 N Glendale Ave, Glendale - Demo

2/25, Thurs: 11-2 pm - 239 N Crescent Dr, Beverly Hills - Demo

Mmmm.... Cake.

photo credit: www.theyucadiaries.blogspot.com

How good does this cake look? Foodie-blogger Roxanne Buil adapted a sugar-free, gluten-free red velvet chocolate cake recipe from Healthy Indulgences to exclude the red food coloring, but the result is just as yummy & even healthier.
She used ZSweet® in place of sugar & graciously allowed us to share the fruits of her labors here with you.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
9 large eggs
1 cup ZSweet
1/4 teaspoon stevia extract ( I use the Now brand)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup yogurt
3/4 cup sifted coconut flour
3/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Set out butter and eggs to bring to room temperature. Butter a cake pan and coat with cocoa powder removing the excess powder. Separate the egg yolks from the whites and beat the whites until they form stiff peaks. In a separate bowl, beat the yolks with vanilla extract. Mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. In another bowl , cream butter until it turns to a pale yellow color. Add the ZSweet in a steady stream and cream together for 2-3 minutes, or until light, fluffy, and close to the color of cream cheese. Make sure to incorporate well. Add the egg yolks to the butter and cream and beat. Once the yolks are added, add dry and wet ingredients until the mixture is combined well leaving the egg whites until the very end. Fold in the egg whites gently and once the mixture is combined, pour the batter into the cake pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes, and test with a toothpick. Remove and invert very gently onto a cooling rack. Once cool, use a cake leveler to cut the loaf evenly in half. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
2-8 oz packages cream cheese
1/2 cup ZSweet, powdered (using a coffee grinder combine ZSweet with a little arrowroot)
1 tbsp arrowroot powder
1/4 teaspoon stevia extract
1 stick butter
Pinch of salt

Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Beat until smooth and creamy, then add powdered ZSweet and beat until the mixture is combined well. This will take a little while because the ZSweet has to dissolve into the mixture well.

ZSweet® is "rather naughty"

European customers are loving ZSweet®. I get such a kick out of the charming phrases they use to describe ZSweet®. In a recent article, "Zero calorie sugar launches and claims 100% natural", the writer stated the following: "For all the 2 million people in the UK living with diabetes, sugar has become a scary no-no. But here’s for some great news! Zsweet (Zsweet®) is the first, natural, truly zero calorie, zero glycaemic sugar alternative that tastes, well just like sugar, instantly allowing you to devour some rather naughty puds...."

I had a chuckle and had to look up "puds" to be sure of what was being said, sure enough puds means desserts, like pudding, and yes, it's true, you can still have a lil' naughty dessert when you swap sugar for ZSweet®.

For customers within the European Union shop at www.ZSweet.eu.

ZSweet® & Suzanne Somer's Diet

I first heard about the Suzanne Somer's diet from a very close friend. She had so much success on the diet that her sister & her Mom got on board & also had amazing results. From what I recall, it was important to avoid sugar & to never mix your sugar with fat. (Please feel free to comment below if I've got that wrong).

Today I was reminded of the diet when I came across a recommendation for ZSweet® by one of Suzanne Somer's community members on her Somersize Support Forum under the section: Food Brands that are Good for Somersizing.

Like ZSweet®, Somersweet® (Suzanne Somer's sweetener) is made with erythritol. However, after tasting it myself I still believe ZSweet® tastes more like sugar. There is also a significant savings when you compare the two brands.

Somersweet® is $19.95 for 2 1 lb. canisters vs. $13.99 for a 1.5 lb. ZSweet® pouch ($2.98 Savings!) & $19.95 for 100 packets vs. $7.49 for 100 ZSweet® packets. ($12.46 Savings!)

I've seen firsthand that Somersizing really works & therefore I personally recommend it for anyone ready to lose weight & look great. I'm also excited that Suzanne Somers has used natural erythritol in her sweetener instead of an artificial alternative, but for those concerned with price or convenience it's good to know ZSweet® is an acceptable & affordable option that can be found in Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe & other natural retailers nationwide, as well as online.

Here's to looking as fabulous as Suzanne Somers in 2010!

photo credit: www.suzannesomers.com

"Low Carb Brownies That Taste Like Brownies"

Looking for a decadent brownie that won't make you feel guilty? Check out this low carb recipe made with ZSweet® that promises a brownie that tastes like the real thing at: www.lowcarbfriends.com.

Nutritional Info: Makes 6 servings. Each serving 108 calories. 5 g carb 3 g fiber. 4 g protein. 9 g fat.