The use of sweeteners is always a hot topic. Although moderation and variety is the key to good nutrition, I believe the less processed the food and fuel we consume, the better off we will be in the long run. However, sweeteners are around every corner and they may be a stepping stone to help people in their quest and journey for a healthy lifestyle. Here is an article regarding sweeteners, from SCAN, Spring 2011:
Sweeteners on the Block
By Francis Dang, RD
The consumption of sweeteners in the United States ranks among the highest in the world and their popularity is still growing. People have a natural liking for sweet tastes, which has allowed for the development of a variety of sweeteners to enhance the flavors of food. In the United States, some sweeteners are considered food additives while others are considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredients.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve the safety of all food additives in the United States. Sweeteners used today can be classified as nutritive, non-nutritive, and polyols. Since their creation, the effect of sweeteners on health has come into question as well as their influence on diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS
Nutritive sweeteners, like sucrose and fructose, provide calories in addition to flavor. Fructose is commonly added to foods and beverages in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), whose yearly consumption has increased by 4000% since the 1970s. Sugar- sweetened beverages have become a key concern, accounting for the majority of the added sugars in the American diet. With the concurrent increase in obesity, speculation has been raised that nutritive sweeteners have influenced weight gain as well as hyperlipidemia. In a human metabolic study, healthy subjects were found to have low leptin and high ghrelin responses and increased triglyceride levels after a high-fructose meal.
A recent cross-sectional study found a statistically significant correlation between consumption of added sugars in the diet and blood lipid levels among U.S. adults.
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS
Non-nutritive, or high-intensity sweeteners, offer a sweet taste with minimal-to-no calories or glycemic response. The non-nutritive sweeteners approved and monitored by the FDA are saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and neotame. According to the American Dietetic Association, non-nutritive sweeteners can aid in weight management, improve glycemic control, and prevent dental caries. They are controversial, however, because of concerns involving their safety and possible carcinogenic effects. There have been reports that aspartame and sucralose may cause migraines in those who are susceptible. Individuals with phenylketonuria should avoid aspartame, and at-risk populations such as pregnant women and children should use artificial sweeteners with care. Animal studies have revealed increased risk of bladder cancer with neonatal exposure to saccharin; however, these same effects have not been confirmed in humans,
POLYOLS
Polyols, or sugar alcohols, are a new category of GRAS-approved or GRAS- petitioned sweeteners that offer fewer calories than nutritive sweeteners. Common polyols include sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and D-Tagatose. They aid in glycemic control, reducingthe risk of dental caries, and possibly providing prebiotic benefits. Sorbitol and mannitol, which are common ingredients in chewing gum, baked products, and candy, may cause a laxative effect if consumed in large amounts. In vitro studies of D-Tagatose have revealed its ability to produce short-chain fatty acids and stimulate colonic bacteria fermentation.
THE NEW SWEETENER ON THE BLOCK-STEVIA
Stevia (Stevioside) is typically sold in packets as “dietary supplements “ and its use as a sweetening agent has been growing in popularity. A study of subjects with diabetes and hypertension found no side effects as well as no significant changes in blood glucose and blood pressure with the use of Stevia.
This plant- derived glycoside is 300 times sweeter than glucose and according to the FDA, “there is no basis to object” to the use of Stevia; however, it has not been approved as a nonnutritive sweetener.
CONCLUSION
According to the American Dietetic Association, sweeteners can be included in the diet to improve the taste of foods while offering health benefits such as weight and glycemic control. However, further studies are needed to determinethe safety and long-term effect of sweeteners on humans.
Francis Dang, RD, LD
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