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Artificial Sweeteners – Are they that bad for me?

Over the years there has been controversy regarding sweeteners, are they actually better than sugar?

With the growing obesity crisis in the UK and around the world the industry has created artificial sweeteners. A low or zero calorie replacement for everyday table sugar. They can be used in drinks, baking and cooking. And there are claims by the manufactures that sweeteners eliminate tooth decay, weight gain and the risk of diabetes.

But what are sweeteners?

Sweeteners come from many different sources. I will look at four of the most popular brands and the breakdown of each of them.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://pgpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Aspartame.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text]

Aspartame also known as NutraSweet

This was produced by an American chemical company. It is made from methyl ester which are chemical properties derived from acids. This is one of the most popular sweeteners as it does not possess an aftertaste. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar and often found in drinks and cereals. Recently Pepsi removed aspartame from their popular Diet drink and replaced it with sucralose. This was following controversial reports about the side effects of the sweetener only to find that sales plummeted. Following on from the drop in sales and protests from loyal Diet Pepsi drinkers, the manufacturer has brought back Diet Pepsi with Aspartame.[/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://pgpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Stevia.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text]

Stevia

One of the newest sweeteners on the market. It is created from extracts of the stevia leaf and comes in liquid or powdered form. It is heat-stable, meaning it is great for baking and cooking and can be found in soft drinks and juices. Although it comes from a plant it can often be mixed with dextrose or sugar alcohol.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://pgpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Sucrolose.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text]

Sucralose marketed as Splenda

Derived from sucrose this sweetener can be found in low calorie dressing, chewing gum and breakfast cereals. It has been linked with migraines and harming the immune system, but was concluded to be safe for human consumption.[/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://pgpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Acesulfame.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text]

Acesulfame K Sunett

Also known as Acesulfame potassium it can be found in desserts and sweets and cakes (Diet Coke uses this along with Aspartame). It is produced using a mix of acetoacetic acid, naturally occurring minerals, potassium and an organic intermediate.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]All of these sweeteners are deemed safe and have been given FDA approval. Also one can consume during pregnancy and as they have little or no effect on your blood sugar levels will not add to your risk of gestational diabetes.

Most sweeteners are not stored or absorbed into the body which means they do not spike our insulin levels. This is why they can assist with weight loss. But with anything, everything should be eaten in moderation.

Sweeteners are mainly found in low calorie foods and fizzy drinks. Here is a table of some of the most popular drinks and the amounts of sweeteners used in each one, You’ll see that the amounts of sweeteners used in each drink does not cause any health risks.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]

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Sweeteners and weight loss

Sweeteners do not contain carbohydrates, so are either calorie free, or contain very few calories per serving. They are also 150-600 times sweeter than normal sugar, so you do not need to add a lot to make foods are drinks taste nice. However, like with most sweet things they can cause cravings for more sweet treats, so they should be kept to a minimum where possible.

So what’s the final verdict?

If you are on a low calorie diet there is a place for sweeteners. Moderation is the key though. Learn to have your coffee without sugar and sweetener. Keep diet fizzy drinks to a minimum. And as for baked goods.. Well, I’ll let you decide whether they should be in your meal plan!

Keep going on the regime!

Nikki[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]