I knew aspartame and saccharin were bad, but I didn't know that the process to make Splenda included chlorine. GAG. None of these products should be consumed.
Let's stick to more natural sweeteners and use fruit instead.
Alternative Sweeteners 101: "
Photo by Vali.
Just take a guess at how much sugar the average American consumed, per day in 2003. Answer: 44 teaspoons. That means that in 2003, the average American consumed 142 pounds of sugar! That’s more than 7 times the recommended maximum intake of sugar (which is 6 teaspoons).
As a way to curb the problem of chronic diseases, like diabetes and obesity, that result from sweetener over-consumption, many people have turned to artificial sweeteners. The following is your guide to the most common alternatives to sugar.
Artificial sweeteners
Aspartame is the active ingredient in NutraSweet® and Equal®). Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar is made by combining two amino acids (aspartic acid + phenylalanine) with the alcohol methanol. Alone, the two amino acids are harmless, but when transformed chemically by the toxic wood alcohol, the resultant artificial sweetener’s safety is questionable. Author and neurologist, Russel L. Blaylock, writes in his book Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, that metabolized Aspartame overexcites the brains neurons leading to neuronal death, seizures, Alzheimer’s, and Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). Some scientists have even found that Aspartame breaks down into formaldehyde (used to embalm cadavers) and accumulates in the body. NutraSweet® is found in over 5,000 products so read your labels, folks.
Saccharin is found in such sugar alternatives such as Sweet’ N Low®. Saccharin is known by the chemical name benzoic sulfinide and is derived from coal tar. There are no calories or food energy obtained from saccharin because it can’t be metabolized by the body. Its super-sweet (200-700 more sweet than sugar) taste though, can induce insulin release by the pancreas and wreak havoc on one’s blood sugar. Saccharin’s safety came into question the 1970’s when male rats ingested large quantities, formed toxic silicate crystals and developed bladder cancer. Since 2000, the US government has removed saccharin from the list of potential cancer causing substances. Center for Science in the Public Interest immediately posted a press release that calls into question the de-listing and the safety of a substance like saccharin that is linked to cancer.
Sucralose is found in artificial sweeteners such as Splenda®. This alternative to sugar is extremely sweet at an estimated 600 times more sweet than sugar. Sucrolose is manufactured by adding chlorine to sucrose (table sugar). Like aspartame and saccharin, sucralose is not metabolized into energy and thus makers of Splenda label it as a no calorie sweetener, it actually contains 3.31 calories per gram or 96 calories and 32 grams of carbohydrates per cup because of the added bulking agents dextrose or maltodextrin. The concern with sucralose comes from the chlorine that is added to the sucrose. This combination was discovered when trying to formulate a new pesticide. Long-term studies have not been done on the safety of sucralose yet chloride based organic compounds, like DDT, are considered dangerous.
Natural alternative sweeteners
Agave syrup (aka Agave necter) is a naturally heated and concentration of aguamiel in the sap of the Agave plant. This syrup is 1.5 times sweeter then sugar, contains the minerals magnesium, iron, calcium and potassium and can be used to sweeten recipe. Agave has a low glycemic index and glycemic load, but this is because it is composed of 90% fructose and 10% glucose of which, only glucose is measured in the rating system. This can make it tricky for diabetics to use. The only other place fructose is this high is in high-fructose corn syrup. Additionally, most agave is produced in Mexico and before being shipped to the US it can be diluted with corn syrup to increase the volume–make sure you’re buying high quality agave. High fructose consumption is associated with reduced insulin receptor sensitivity, fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and oxidative cellular damage. Be cautious even with this natural sweetener.
Stevia goes by the chemical name of stevioside (rebaudioside A) and is extracted from the stevia plant. It’s very popular in Japan because stevia is about 250 times more sweet than sucrose. Stevia can be used by diabetics, on a low carbohydrate diet as it does not greatly affect blood glucose and also enhances glucose tolerance. This alternative sweetener can also be used to treat obesity and hypertension although keep in mind it’s not completely safe. Like anything in excess, high doses of stevia have been associated with decreased sperm counts in men and interference of proper carbohydrate metabolism.
So what’s the smartest choice? Next time you bake a tray of cookies, try an alternative recipes that uses a natural sweetener. This may seem obvious but in general, it’s most healthful to return to the basics and eat whole foods. Stick to the natural concentrations of sugars found in our fruits and vegetables. When consumed as whole food, sugars are absorbed more slowly due to the high fiber content. If its fruit, don’t juice it or dry it. Eat food whole!
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