Artificial Sweeteners Versus Sugar

There are basically six types of artificial sweeteners:

• Aspartame (NutraSweet): This sweetener is not safe for everyone. People with phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize phenylalanine. Children with epilepsy are adversely affected. Healthy people have reported having headaches from using the sweetener. It cannot be used in cooking.
• Saccharin: This sweetener was once associated with cancer in rats but recent studies have shown the unlikelihood of this happening in humans.
• Acesulfame-K (Sunette): This sweetener been found to be safe and is used in cooking and many varieties of food.
• Cyclamate (Sweet-N-Low): This sugar is a popular one used in restaurants as a table sweetener but cannot be used in processed foods.
• Sucralose (Splenda): This sweetener is approved for use in all foods and beverages.
• Stevia, has been added to the basic six sweeteners. It is an herbal supplement which is used as a sugar substitute. Its approval as a sugar substitute was met with controversy due to a lack of research regarding its safety.

Artifical sweeteners are synthetic compounds that are sweeter than sugar. Natural sweeteners are derived from fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms and are referred to as sorbitol and xylitol. Polyols are non-sugar sweeteners and known as "sugar alcohols."

Artificial sweeteners have few or no calories. Artificial sweeteners allow diabetics to enjoy a wider variety of foods; therefore enabling them to maintain stable glucose levels. Sugar substitutes do affect glucose levels but are slower acting than sugar and allows diabetics to more easily control their blood sugar levels.

Reactive hypoglycemia individuals benefit from artifical sugar substitutes because insulin is not flooded into their bloodstream, as happens when sugar is ingested, and it keeps their glucose levels from dropping to low levels.

The artificial sweeteners are useful in weight loss diets as they reduce the number of calories in food. The less calories, the less energy it takes to lose weight.

When consumed in moderation, these sweeteners are considered to be quite safe. One positive attribute of the artificial sweeteners is that they do not cause cavities.