Are All Low-Calorie Sweeteners Equal?
A Close Look at Artificial and Natural Sugar Substitutes
Sep 9, 2009
Some people choose to use sweeteners instead of using sugar for a variety of reasons; many people use sweeteners to avoid intake of “empty” calories, but others-like diabetics-use sweeteners for health reasons. There are two types of sugar substitutes: artificial and natural. Three artificial sweeteners that are widely used in the U.S. are Saccharin, Aspartame, and Sucralose; one natural sweetener recently approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. is Stevia. Critics of artificial sweeteners often recommend natural sweeteners like Stevia as safe alternatives to their synthetic counterparts.
Below is a comparison of these four sweeteners which are available at most supermarkets.
Saccharin
This no-calorie sweetener is often marketed in the U.S. as Sweet 'N Low and is found in pink packets. Like most sweeteners, it is many times sweeter than sugar, which is why it takes less saccharin to sweeten foods than sugar. It is also considered to be better for diabetics than table sugar and is thought to be better than sugar because it doesn't promote tooth decay. Saccharin is noted for its unpleasant, sometimes bitter aftertaste.
Aspartame
This sugar substitute is known on the market as Equal or Nutrasweet and is often found in blue packets. It can be found in literally hundreds of products on the market. Like saccharin, aspartame is much sweeter than sugar and it is also considered better for diabetics; further, it doesn't promote tooth decay.
One drawback of this sweetener is that it cannot be used in baking because heat breaks it down and it loses its sweetness. Another problem with aspartame is that it can't be used by phenylketonurics (persons with PKU). Aspartame contains phenylalanine, which cannot be properly broken down by these persons' metabolisms.
Sucralose
Sucralose is a sugar substitute most notably known as Splenda; it is found in yellow packets in the U.S. Like saccharin and aspartame, sucralose has no calories, is considered to be safer for diabetics than sugar, doesn't promote tooth decay, and is much sweeter than sugar.
Health Concerns Surrounding the Use of Artificial Sweeteners
The above three sweeteners are believed to be suitable for human consumption. However, some proponents of natural sweeteners claim that artificial sugar substitutes are toxic and can cause health problems. Michael A. Corey, PhD, argues in "Splenda or Splen-dud: The Truth About the Latest and Greatest Artificial Sweetener" that all three of these sweeteners were eventually approved by the Food and Drug Administration, despite the fact that tests had proven the sweeteners were potentially harmful to human beings. Corey recommends avoiding artificial sweeteners altogether.
Stevia
Many critics of artificial sugar substitutes recommend natural sweeteners, including honey and maple syrup. Like them, the herb Stevia is a natural sweetener which comes from a plant that grows in South America. It contains no calories and is many times sweeter than sugar, like other sweeteners. It is also considered safe for diabetics and does not promote tooth decay.
Stevia was banned by the FDA for a number of years but has recently been approved for use. Many of its original health concerns have proved to be unfounded. Some advocates of the herb point to the evidence that Stevia has been used for decades in Japan. Stevia can be found in the brands Truvia and Only Sweet.
Choices
Many people are simply grateful that they have options. A person can choose to use sugar, an artificial sweetener, or something natural, and-knowing the facts-he can rest easy with his decision.
Additional sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia
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