A growing list of artificial sweeteners including saccharine (Sweet-n-Low), aspartame (NutraSweet or Equal), sucralose (Splenda), and D-Tagatose (Sugaree) are substituting for table sugar (sucrose). These sugar substitutes offer the sweetness of sugar with fewer calories. Table sugar contains 4 calories per gram, as compared with artificial sweeteners which often contain zero calories per gram. Artificial sweeteners are used in many food products, ranging from ketchup to soft drinks to chewing gum.
More than 180 million Americans regularly eat and drink sugar-free products. According to a 2005 Nielsen report, artificially-sweetened food products are the second-fastest-growing segment (organics are first) in the health products industry. However, many experts question if artificial sweeteners are safe. They also debate if sugar substitutes help people with weight loss and maintenance.
The safety of artificial sweeteners has been questioned since the 1970s. At that time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tried to ban saccharine, since animal studies suggested that it caused cancer. However, further research on humans has not shown a link to cancer. As a result, the FDA concluded that artificial sweeteners were not a threat to human health. Nonetheless, many experts are not completely convinced that artificial sweeteners are safe for consumption. Short term effects can include headaches and diarrhea in some people after eating artificial sweeteners.
It also remains uncertain if artificial sweeteners help with weight loss. Since sugar substitutes are calorie-free and don't count as a carbohydrate, fat, or protein, they can help overweight people reduce calories and diabetics cut back on sugar. Foods that were previously off limits become available when substituted with artificial sweeteners to people that are calorie- or sugar- conscious. However, just because a food contains artificial sweeteners, it doesn't mean it's completely calorie-, fat- or carbohydrate-free. People often overindulge on sugar-free products which still contain calories, and do not save calories in the long-term.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on November 21, 2006 04:15 PM
