You’ve probably heard all kinds of rumors about artificial sweeteners, such a horrible after taste or they cause cancer. Artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Some sugar substitutes are made from plants or derived from natural sugars. It’s called intense sweeteners because they feel many times sweeter than natural sugars such as sucrose. Artificial sweeteners contain almost zero calories, making it a perfect substitute for sugar in the diet and diabetic foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five artificial sweeteners only for human consumption, and they are: Acesulfame Potassium
Aspartame
Neotame
Saccharin
SucraloseSugar replacement found in processed foods, such as soda, candy, jams and jellies, cakes and pies and canned goods. They are available for home use in baking and for use on the table, instead of regular sugar. Some products may leave an unpleasant aftertaste, but it varies from person to person. Try different types of artificial sweeteners until you find one that does not leave aftertaste.Weight most obvious health benefits LossOne using artificial sweeteners instead of sugar is the usual lack of calories. If you’re trying to lose weight and reduce the sugar in your diet, sugar substitutes can help you achieve that goal.
A 12-ounce soda typically contains about 130 calories from 8 teaspoon of sugar. Drinking diet soda or sugar-free soda flavored with sugar substitute eliminating calories from your diet. Weight loss occurs when we burn more calories than you consume through food and drink. The selection of food and drinks with sugar alternatives can help you reduce your daily calorie count your intake.Diabetes Artificial sweeteners do not affect your blood sugar levels, making it a good alternative to sugar. It’s not the carbs so they are converted to sugar in the body. Diabetics should always check with their doctor and nutritionist before using a sugar substitute because it can be fixed with some sugar, which can affect blood sugar levels. In general, the sugar substitutes will not have an effect on blood sugar levels because they are non-nutritional food additives, which means they do not have nutritional value.Dental CavitiesArtificial sweeteners do not contribute to tooth decay. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends chewing gum to help improve dental health.
ADA ADA seal of approval given to chewing gum containing aspartame, sorbitol or mannitol for safety and effectiveness. ADA cites studies that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals can help prevent cavities by stimulating saliva. Saliva helps neutralize acids that make up the teeth after eating. Sugar can cause acid formed by bacteria in the mouth, which causes tooth decay and plaque formation. Bubblegum flavored with sugar substitute stimulate saliva flow and contribute to harmful acids that destroy teeth.Health ConcernsSince 1970, people have been wary of artificial sweeteners. Saccharin had previously been linked to bladder cancer in rats, and the FDA need a product containing saccharin warning label to be displayed.
More recent research suggests there is no clear correlation between cancer and artificial sweeteners. If you are concerned about possible health risks from food additives and sugar substitutes, you can consult with a physician or the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). JCI sought and found that artificial sweeteners sucralose and Neotame is a safe sugar substitute. They found aspartame is probably safe. Saccharin, on the other hand, may not be safe and have little risk of negative health effects.