How Good Are Artificial Sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners can provide the sweet taste of sugar without the high calories of sugar. They can help you avoid “sugar spikes” and hypoglycemia. Diabetics can enjoy sweet treats without dangerous rises and falls in blood sugar. There are several types of artificial sweeteners currently being used.
For many years, saccharin was the most common artificial sweetener. Many people complained of a bitter aftertaste with this artificial sweetener, and hesitated to use it for that reason.
The discovery of aspartame (NutraSweet) was hailed as a great breakthrough in artificial sweeteners. It didn’t have the bitter aftertaste of saccharin. In fact, many people thought it was even sweeter than sugar.
But further investigation revealed that NutraSweet might not be the great breakthrough it claimed to be. It was revealed that the FDA committee that had reviewed NutraSweet had recommended that it not be approved for human consumption because toxins accumulated in the liver of users.
The official who approved the sweetener despite that recommendation later went to work for the company that held the patent on NutraSweet (at a substantial raise in pay).
A subsequent investigation by an Attorney General had similar results. Paperwork was “misplaced” missing a deadline, and a clerical employee soon changed jobs.
Many countries have banned aspartame for that toxicity, and for side-effects including headaches and joint pain.
Another popular artificial sweetener is Splenda. While it is more expensive than other sweeteners, Splenda has an advantage in that it can be used for baking. The taste is comparable to sugar, and doesn’t leave a bitter aftertaste. Products sweetened with Splenda include pancake syrup, drink mixes and baked goods.
One of the newest additions to the family of sugar substitutes is Stevia—a natural sweetener that has enjoyed great popularity in other countries.
Many of the research studies vilifying sugar were publicized at the entry of artificial sweeteners into the market, and some researchers question whether study results may have been skewed to promote the new products. Current debate on High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) raises the same questions—is the negative report simply a marketing gimmick?
While artificial sweeteners may play a part in your overall weight loss plan, there is no single “magic ingredient” to make pounds vanish. And some doctors warn that artificially-sweetened foods can create or intensify carbohydrate cravings.
The most effective weight loss comes from an ongoing series of small lifestyle changes. By decreasing calorie intake, and increasing calories burned through exercise, safe steady weight loss can be achieved. And that can be a sweet feeling indeed!
