Zenith Hospital, Malad West, Mumbai
Artificial sweeteners are synthetic chemicals that make things taste sweet without any extra calories. Artificial sweeteners taste sweet because they are recognized by the sweetness receptors on your tongue. They provide virtually zero calories, as your body can’t break them down Many types of artificial sweeteners exist, but not all are approved for use in every country. The most common ones include:
- aspartame,
- sucralose,
- saccharin,
- neotame, and
- acesulfame potassium and
- now the new herbal sweetener Stevia.
Recent studies have found that replacing sugary foods or drinks with artificially sweetened ones may
- Reduce hunger and calorie intake and may help you lose some weight and
- Can help those with diabetes reduce their intake of added sugar and hence help in blood sugar control.
- when consumed instead of sugar, decrease the likelihood of tooth decay so beneficial for dental health.
Artificial sweeteners are unlikely to
- Increase your risk of metabolic syndrome or
- Increase the risk of cancer in humans or
- Cause headaches, depression, or seizures.
However, some individuals could be more sensitive to these effects than others. Artificial sweeteners may disrupt the balance of gut bacteria in some people, which could increase the risk of disease. However, more studies are needed to confirm this effect. Artificial sweeteners are generally considered safe but should be avoided by people who have phenylketonuria or are allergic to sulphonamides. Overall, the use of artificial sweeteners poses few risks and may even have benefits for weight loss, blood sugar control, and dental health. These sweeteners are especially beneficial if you use them to decrease the amount of added sugar in your diet and use them judiciously in the least dosages. The likelihood of negative effects can vary from individual to individual and depends on the type of artificial sweetener consumed.
Some people may feel bad or experience negative effects after consuming artificial sweeteners, even though they are safe and well-tolerated by most people. If you’d like to avoid artificial sweeteners, try using natural sweeteners instead.
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the above article belong solely to the author, and we are not responsible in any way for the actions or results taken any person, organisation on basis of reading information, or contributions in this article.)
