Sugar substitutes - side effects

Introduction

The world we live in is full of substitutes for everything so everyone can choose from multiple options, whatever the matter. One of the most used items in confectioneries is sugar, and even sugar can be substituted with numerous different options. Sugar is considered as a natural sweetening agent but it still can be associated with numerous different types of medical conditions such as obesity, tooth decay, diabetes and many others. Due to these drawbacks of ordinary sugar, there are numerous types of artificial sweeteners which can be used instead of it. Most of them claim to provide sweetness without any calories. The most commonly used artificial sweeteners include sucralose, aspartame and saccharin. They are approved by the FDA so they can be used safely by all those who want to lose weight or those who suffer from diabetes. Not that many people are familiar with the fact that these artificial sweeteners can actually be associated with various types of unwanted sideeffects.

Sugar Substitutes - Side Effects

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener which does not contain any saccharide and it is commonly used in different sorts of low calorie foods. It was first introduced in 1981 and ever since that year it has been the subject of numerous debates about its dangers. Even though it has been approved by the FDA, not that many people are aware of the fact that it can release certain amounts of methanol after being digested. Methanol can be very dangerous as it can cause significant damage to the eyes and certain vision problems. Pregnant women should avoid using it since it may cause certain damage to the brain of an unborn child.

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener which does not contain any calories and it is actually three times sweeter than the aforementioned aspartame. It was approved by the FDA in 1999 and it is commonly sold under a different name – Splenda. Even though it can be found in thousands of different products it is still surrounded by an intense controversy. It contains chlorine, among other potentially dangerous ingredients so it can be related with certain types of cancer.

Saccharin is up to 700 times sweeter than the regular sugar and it does not contain any calories. It is commonly used by those who suffer from diabetes, but certain studies have shown that it may not be that safe when used for prolonged periods of time.