- Posted: 08/28/2018
- By: Alvizia Healthcare
“Sugar” has become a common problem affecting the people of our country and they are strictly avoided by their Doctors
to have sugar or any sweet substance. Moreover now a days diet conscious people also try to consume less sugar. So here
comes the role of alternative sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners or alternative sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes,
but may be derived from naturally occurring substances, including herbs or sugar itself.
Much attention must be provided while buying this alternative sweeteners. Because not all alternative sweetener are good for our body.
Artificial sweeteners are attractive alternatives to sugar because they add virtually no calories to your diet. In addition, you need only a
fraction compared with the amount of sugar you would normally use for sweetness.
Artificial sweeteners are widely used in processed foods, including baked goods, soft drinks, powdered drink mixes, candy, puddings,
canned foods, jams and jellies, dairy products, and scores of other foods and beverages.
Two Types of ALTERNATIVE SWEETENERS
Nutritive sweeteners: It contain carbohydrate and may have just as many kilojoules as regular sugar. These include sugar alcohols
and alternative natural sweeteners such as agave, rice malt syrup and fructose. They do not effect glucose levels much so, like sugar,
they are used in small amounts
Non-nutritive sweeteners (also known as ‘artificial’ or ‘intense’ sweeteners), include aspartame, sucralose and stevia. They do not
contain carbohydrate and are low in kilojoules. ‘Diet’ or ‘low-joule’ products often use non-nutritive sweeteners instead of sugar in
food
Uses of ALTERNATIVE SWEETNER
Some advantages of alternative sweeteners are as follows:
Weight control: People are now a days too much conscious about their weight, so artificial sweeteners are very attractive to them
because One of the most appealing aspects of artificial sweeteners is that they have virtually no calories. In contrast, each gram of
regular table sugar contains 4 calories.
Diabetes. Artificial sweeteners may be a good alternative to sugar if you have diabetes. Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners
generally don't raise blood sugar levels because they are not carbohydrates. They are quite helpful to diabetes patients but before
they use it, they must consult their Doctor or Dietitian.
Some disadvantages of ALTERNATIVE SWEETENERS
Some ‘diet’ products containing alternative sweeteners may still be high in saturated fat and are therefore not suitable to include
in your menu plan eg: ‘sugar free’ chocolate. Therefore it is necessary that their contents are checked carefully from the back of their
label before making them come in use.
Many nutritive sweeteners listed have a laxative effect and can cause diarrhea.