My my, I’ve been seeing quite an increase in the number of people jogging (Or yogging) in the streets lately, a sure sign that summer is about to take a brick, and smash it into our faces. The sun is out, people are getting out, working off the winter weight (HIGH FIVE) and being generally more healthy, minus the increase in white wine and rose consumption that comes with a pumping Cape Town summer.

So naturally some of you might be laying off the carbs, which are the enemy, and you’ll maybe be looking at some sweeteners. But then you remember that someone told you about aspartame and how bad it is. While it’s difficult to judge if it really is bad, it’s best to stay on the safe side. I’ve taken in a fair amount of aspartame in my time and aside from two lumps and a root growing in my pants, nothing else seems to have grown from me. No tit growing from my forehead (Although members of the public do call me a tit from time to time, depending on the content I’m writing), no hand growing from my ankle or anything else that might make you think twice before lunging for me on the Bang Bang dance floor.

In the interests of safety though, I’ve been testing out a sort of new sweetener from Huletts, and I’ve been doing it for you. It’s called Huletts Equisweet with sucralose and comes in a very electro green colour which is just up my alley for summer. It’s a low kilojoule sweetener without aspartame and to me, tastes just like sugar!

One Huletts Equisweet sachet is equivalent to two teaspoons of sugar but has less than one tenth the kilojoules. So now you can look like Paris Hilton! Minus the disease. It is a touch more expensive than the regular aspartame sweeteners, but who cares when you’re loaded? And it’s an investment in your health so it is definitely worth it. Here are some facts that you might care to know on sucralose:

What is Sucralose?

Sucralose is a no-kilojoule (non-nutritive) sugar substitute that is made from sugar and tastes like sugar. Although it is derived from sugar, it is not recognised by the body as a sugar and is not broken down by the body to provide energy(kJ). It is 600 times sweeter than sugar and has no effect on blood glucose levels.

What are the benefits of Sucralose?

A non-nutritive (kJ-free) sweetener that is made from sugar, tastes like sugar and has no after taste.
Sucralose maintains its sweetness under high heat of cooking and baking as well as long term storage.
Sucralose cannot be utilised by oral bacteria, so it does not contribute towards tooth decay.
Sucralose has no known side-effects and does not require any warning on the label.
Sucralose has no effect on carbohydrate metabolism and is safe for diabetics and slimmers.
The excellent stability and quality taste means it can be used in a wide range of foods and beverages.
Sucralose powder is freely soluble in water, even at low temperatures, which means it is easy to use in most food products.

Notes on safety

The safety of Sucralose is supported by more than 110 studies in human beings and animals. It did not pose any health risks. Its safety has been confirmed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as authorities in more than 80 other countries, including South Africa.

So that’s it, grab it for summer, be slimmer, be healthier and look cooler! And pick up more chicks, guys, Lady Gaga’s or whatever it is that you go for.