Artificial Sweeteners
The FDA has endorsed five non nutritive artificial sweeteners:, aspartame, acesulfame, saccharin ,sucralose and neotame. Additionally it has approved one nutritive sweetener, stevia. Artificial sweeteners provide an overly powerful supply of sweetness to the consumer. Because of this artificial sweeteners appear to offer an answer to an overweight society looking for a solution. A single can of soda comes with about 150 calories. When the alternative, a diet soda, can offer the same indulgence with no calories, it seems to make for an easy decision.
Artificial Sweeteners-Bad for Weight Loss!
The American Heart Association and The American Diabetes Association support the use of non nutrients sugar substitutes to fight the rise of diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome, since consumption of artificial sweeteners would lower the over all caloric intake of ones diet if substituted for sugar.
Could there be a bigger picture
…when it comes to the effect non nutritive sweeteners have on the body? We all know that non nutritive artificial sweeteners are regarded as toxic by many for the effect they may have on long term health. However, according to doctor Dr. David Ludwig, an obesity and weight-loss specialist at Harvard-affiliated Boston Children’s Hospital, Use of these artificial sweeteners is even bad for weight loss!
He reasons that one will feel over confident and since they are drinking a diet soda, they will go ahead and eat those fries also and replace the calories anyway. Dr. Ludwig also sites that because artificial sweeteners are so powerful, they can change the way foods taste. He specifically states that over stimulation to the receptors by these powerful sweeteners could limit desire for more complex tastes and make even a fruits or vegetables unappealing.
The most profound statement from Dr. Ludwig is that artificial sweeteners can play a trick on us. After a while consumers will not associate sweetness with caloric intake. This will result in users of these sweeteners to continue to crave more food and therefore consume more calories.
The Skinny on Stevia
Stevia has always been my go to as a sweetener, since it comes directly from a plant. If I don’t get sweetness from a fruit in a meal, I like to use a few drops of stevia. I know some people don’t like the aftertaste but I don’t mind it at all. I like it because it is a leaf extract. As far as I Know, there are no of any conclusive studies out as to it’s effect on our bodies or health, however I do know that all other artificial sweeteners and sugar are all proven to be bad for us. What are your thoughts, favorite sweeteners?
