Artificial Sweeteners - Are They Safe?
To research the health risks Sweet 'N Low and other artificial sweeteners I examined both sides of the story. There seems to be no neutral position on any of these sweeteners. Sugar has become the #2 dietary concerns, following only fat content. There are 3 general reasons for using artificial sweeteners; weight loss, dental hygiene, and for diabetics. Just like almost everything in life used in moderation there seems to be few health affects. The reduction in calories comes from the lower quantity needed to add the sweet taste. Wanting something sweet is a natural reaction we are born with. Remember that sugar is a natural product and one that our body is able to metabolize from birth. From a health standpoint I would rather use small amounts of sugar than manmade sweeteners. Better yet, as many doctors agree, wean yourself totally off of sweets. The more natural ingredients in our bodies the easier it is for our bodies to properly metabolize them. The health risks of Sweet 'N Low appears to be the same as all of the artificial sweeteners. Too much is bad for you, a little is okay, and none is best. For dieting purposes we are all going to use some type of artificial sweetener. As I keep repeating on this site you know your body better than anyone. If you notice any kind of side affect discontinue use for 2 weeks. Than try it again. If you still have any side affects try a different sweetener. Let's start by listing the major artificial sweetener ingredients and which major brands use each.
Saccharin- FDA approved 1958- found in Sweet 'N Low (except Canada)
Cyclamate- FDA banned 1969- found in Sweet 'N Low (Canada only)
Aspartame- FDA approved 1981- found in NutraSweet and Equal
Sucralose- FDA approved 1999- found in Splenda
Neotame- FDA approved 2002- not found in many products yet
Xylitol- used in products for diabetics The health risks of Sweet 'N Low are directly related to saccharin. Saccharin is 300 times as sweet as sugar. Being the oldest FDA approved sweetener in widespread use it has undergone many trials and tests. In the 1970's the FDA required warning labels. In 2000 the warning labels were removed. Bladder cancer is the major issue with saccharin. Canada has banned saccharin while allowing cyclamate. The U.S. banned cyclamate but allows saccharin. Both of these bans resulted from the same 1960's tests. Most nutritionists seem to agree that moderate use of saccharin causes no major health risk. Cancer found in lab animals resulted from very large doses of saccharin. NutraSweet and Equal use aspartame as a sweetener. Aspartame is 160 times as sweet as sugar. It is more expensive than saccharin and not as sweet but it has a better taste. Many conditions have been blamed on aspartame but only one has been proven. Women with advanced liver disease or PKU (phenylketonuria) should never use aspartame. The sweet taste of aspartame is lost during cooking so do not use it in place of sugar in recipes. NutraSweet has introduced another form of aspartame called neotame. It is very similar with 2 major exceptions. Neotame does not lose its sweet taste during cooking and there is no danger of PKU. At the current time there are very few products using it. Sucralose is the sweetener used in Splenda. It is 600 times as sweet as sugar. Being the new kid on the block it is just now beginning to be scrutinized in greater detail. Dr. Joseph Mercola is leading the charge against sucralose. However the Center for Science in the Public Interest ranks it the safest of all sweeteners. Its claim that it is made from sugar seems to be true but not true. All resemblance to sugar is lost in the processing. There are 6 lawsuits saying just that and claiming false advertising. According to Dr. Mercola the FDA rushed sucralose into the approved category with only 2 trials being completed prior to approval. Apparently no tests were done on children or pregnant women. Everyone's body is different so metabolism rates vary greatly but at least 15% remains in your body. This is one sweetener I will keep monitoring and report any new developments. For now no side affects have been proven. The sweetener Xylitol is more well known to those suffering from diabetes. It looks and tastes like sugar but does not require insulin in order to be metabolized because it is absorbed so slowly. It is also known as wood sugar because it originally came from birch. The sweetness is equal to sugar. Made popular in Finland the U.S. Army is going to start adding xylitol-sweetened gum to its MRE (meals ready to eat). It has actually been shown to have benefits to your teeth, including repairing small cavities. For those on a diet it should be said that xylitol has 40% less calories than sugar. Although banned in the U.S., cyclamate, is the sweetener in the Canadian version of Sweet 'N Low. It is 30 times as sweet as sugar and leaves no after taste. The health risks of Sweet 'N Low in the U.S. is the same as those for cyclamate in Canada. Studies in the 1960's linked cyclamate and saccharin to bladder cancer in lab rats. The Canadians read the results one way while the U.S. read them another. Some manufacturers in the U.S. have asked for re-approval of cyclamate. There are 55 countries that have approved cyclamate sweetener. While there is no concrete evidence of health risks of Sweet 'N Low or any of these sweeteners caution is advised. Low to moderate amounts of artificial sweeteners are acceptable. My problem with them is that every body is different. How do you know what low to moderate intake is for your body? With that said, my recommendation is the less you use the better it is for your health. Hello, my name is Frank Keller and I am the owner of the Women's Health Supplements website. Don't be fooled by the name, we are not another vitamin retailer. All articles are not just reviewed by me they are written by me. From artificial sweeteners and bottled water to pregnancy nutrition every word is written to help you make an informed decision about your health. Content is chosen from your suggestions. Please visit us at http://www.womens-health-supplements.net to review our articles or to give us your recommendations for new articles. Healthy eating and a good nutrition plan takes very little of your time but is the single most important thing you can do for your health. Have a happy and healthy day!
Related News
Hospital action to feed elderly - Cambridge Evening News
Diabetes and Nutrition Go Hand-In-Hand - Corsavoo.com
Diabetes and Nutrition Go Hand-In-HandCorsavoo.com, France -3 hours agoA diabetes and nutrition program is designed to show you the proper foods to eat and then help you regulate the amount of food you eat in order to keep your ... |
School meals meet USDA nutrition guidelines - Frederick News Post (subscription)
School meals meet USDA nutrition guidelinesFrederick News Post (subscription), MD -17 hours agoEach menu item must meet US Department of Agriculture standards for nutrition value. School meals must contain less than 30 percent of calories from fat per ... |
NutritionData.com Introduces 'My ND,' A One-Stop Nutrition Destination - MarketWatch
Senior Nutrition Program spaghetti fundraiser - Willows Journal
Senior Nutrition Program spaghetti fundraiserWillows Journal, United States -4 hours agoIs set for October 4 from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm at the Senior Nutrition Center, 19 Walker St in Orland. Tickets are $7 for adult and $4 for children under 12. ... |
Nutrition Center ready for move to new site - Hannibal.net
Nutrition Center ready for move to new siteHannibal.net, MO -3 hours agoHannibal Nutrition Center cook Peggy Scholes serves a meal Thursday to Barbara Miller and other diners. The center is moving next Tuesday from Sixth and ... |
Row-crop field tour set at NDSU Carrington center - Worthington Daily Globe
Row-crop field tour set at NDSU Carrington centerWorthington Daily Globe, MN -2 hours agoPlant nutrition, including efficient use of nitrogen and phosphorus among tillage systems, will be discussed. Disease issues to be discussed are sunflower ... |
Cognis Reports Strong Growth for Nutrition Business - Nutrition horizon (press release)
Cognis Reports Strong Growth for Nutrition BusinessNutrition horizon (press release), Netherlands -21 hours agoAll three strategic business units that focus on the innovation-driven wellness and sustainability markets – Care Chemicals, Nutrition& Health and ... |
Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging to be published by Springer - FirstScience
GPSS seeks reimbursements for Child Nutrition Program - KUAM.com
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Can Chronic Pain Come From Food Additives?
It is always amazing to me when I find a food substance that when taken in excess can cause pain the body. And sometimes these foods, and food additives that are regulated by the government, are supposed to be safe. When I test clients and their supplements, or ask about their dietary habits, or chemicals in their work environments, we often discover chemicals or foods that are causing their chronic pain symptoms. When these chemicals are removed, much of their pain subsides.
Do You Know Your Bodys ph And Its Relation To Your Health
Do you know your ph? By getting ph strips at a pharmacy, pool store or lab you can test your urine in the moring and see it's range. A good range is between 6.5 and 7.2. Most of are too acidic.When we are too acidic, the body takes minerals from important organs and our bones to neutralize the acid.
A Consumers Guide to Soy Terms
Although you may have heard about soy and all of its health benefits, you may not have figured out how to incorporate it into your diet, yet. There are so many products available; figuring out exactly what they are may seem overwhelming. Here is an explanation of terms of various soy products to help you understand and evaluate which products are for you.
The coq10 Benefit
Coq10 is also known as Coenzyme Q10.This co q10 is produced naturally in the human body, and is a source of various coq10 benefit. Co q10 is also found in meat and fish. Once co q10 is synthesized by commercial pharmacies, co q10 is produced as a dietary supplement. One can then enjoy the full coq10 benefit without prescription.
Hidden Poison
Did you know that there might be poison in many of your favorite foods found on grocery store shelves everywhere? Breads, crackers, cookies, energy bars, tortillas, frozen pizza are just a few examples of these dangerous foods. The poison in these items is called partially hydrogenated fat, often referred to as trans-fatty acids.
Enjoy The Holidays Healthfully
How To Have A Healthy Thanksgiving
Salads Take Center Stage
The reason I remember the first time I was served a main-course salad, easily 15 years ago, is that it was such a revelation.
Olive Oil, the Healthy Choice
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such as butter, palm and coconut oils because olive oil is a monounsaturated fat that does not increase levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Inflammation Pain Eased with Glyconutrients
Every person on earth has experienced pain at one time or another. Likewise, everyone has also dealt with inflammation in the body, even if they weren't aware of it. However, only a handful of people know what glyconutrients are and how glyconutrients relate to pain and inflammation.
What is Organic Food?
"Organic" has some quite specific legal definitions in most developed countries.
Guidelines to a Healthy Diet
The American Heart Association recommends that you eat a variety of foods from the different food groups. In order for women to lose one to two pounds a week, they should consume between 1200 and 1500 calories a day.
Foods Can Lower Cholesterol and C-reactive Protein
If you have high cholesterol, the American Heart Association's low-cholesterol, low-saturated fat diet will fail you. Even when applied conscientiously, it achieves a disappointingly modest reduction in LDL cholesterol of approximately 7%. Starting at an LDL cholesterol of 150 mg/dl, for instance, you would drop to 139. It's no surprise that many people turn to alternative diets (Ornish, Pritikin, Zone, etc.) to get a bigger bang. And no surprise that many physicians go directly to statin agents for their nearly effortless 35% or greater reduction.
Help Your Heart Grow
I turned into my parents' driveway in Maryland and parked the car. Before I could even step out and close the door, Mom flew out of the backyard, gesturing frantically.
The History of the Acai Berry
The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands of
years and not until the 1990's was it introduced to the
western world. The acai berry was found to possess
tremendous health properties. The acai berry was first used
by the tribes of the Amazon jungle as a cure for various
ailments. It is estimated that the indigenous tribes people
routinely use up to 2,000 of the 3,000 known rainforest fruits
for medicinal purposes.
Correct Your Acid / Akaline Balance by the Water You Drink: What the Experts Say
In health circles there has been much recent talk about acid / alkaline imbalance. Let's see if we can clarify how experts recommend we correct this imbalance.
Healthy Eating Myths Destroyed
Some of the things you think you know that just ain't so (these myths are not true):
You are Closer to Being Vitamin C Deficient Than You Think
Okay, so you think you are doing pretty well with your diet. You prepare most of your meals at home, don't eat much junk food and aren't a fast food eater only rarely. You think vitamins are pretty much nonsense-particularly since you are eating so well-and besides, you feel pretty healthy.
How to Have Great Sex - Nutrition and Foods That Create Passion
Is the thrill gone? Has the thrill gone out of your love life and sex. Do you just spend boring evening after boring evening together watching the prime time TV lineups. On the weekends he watches sports with the guys, she goes shopping with the gals. You eventually wake up one day thinking - "Gee my life and sex life have gotten pretty dull!"
What Would You Do For a Klondike Bar?
Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand. When you say, "I'm on a DIET", it usually means you are depriving yourself of something. Diets do not work; they are restrictive and can become exceedingly frustrating, leading you to "cheat". The more you restrict calories and the tempting treats you love, the more likely you are to binge eat. This is counterproductive in a fat loss program and will prevent you from becoming lean.
Healthy Eating Habits
I read a lot about the
topics of health and especially diets. I have been experimenting with
diets since 1990 and keep journals about my
observations. Over time I tried several very different diets - ranging
from the politically correct ones to highly controversial, along with diets
of my own design. My general observation is that a healthy diet plays an essential
role in the overall scheme of well being.
|
.jpg){kind=small}