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!
efficient cleaning crew Highland Park ..ABC News has recently focused on the possible anti-aging benefits... Read More
Sugar intake is a real concern for people who've had... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
Do you notice your child putting off going to the... Read More
The Benefits of SnackingYou may feel regretful about snacking, but... Read More
The word 'homeostasis' is made up of two Greek words:... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
Almost every woman suffers with premenstrual syndrome at one time... Read More
What if there was a combination of foods that were... Read More
Following these simple nutrition guidelines will allow you to lose... Read More
Most of us are "regular" people. We don't eat the... Read More
Like the Sun, Moon, and Earth, there are three kinds... Read More
At any grocery store in North America right now, there... Read More
Liquid vitamin mineralThe liquid vitamin mineral dietary supplement is a... Read More
Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Approximately 30 years ago, food manufacturers were competing against the... Read More
Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to... Read More
There are so many topics to discuss which affect our... Read More
There are numerous diets out there that guarantee that they... Read More
Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It's a... Read More
Here's something you probably don't know. The fruit and vegetables... Read More
Spring is in the air and ? summer is around... Read More
Nutrition is extremely important for any young person, especially an... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
scheduled maid service Park Ridge ..Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as... Read More
Because all of us have been brought up eating junk... Read More
"Organic" has some quite specific legal definitions in most developed... Read More
Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It's a... Read More
Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More
Being vegetarian is one of the greatest things in the... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
What I am also going to point out is the... Read More
With all the news about Splenda of late and the... Read More
Last year I had a number of clients who started... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
According to the renowned research scientist and inventor of the... Read More
Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More
You may have heard that essential fats are an important... Read More
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed.... Read More
The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More
When we think about the benefits of being ensuring a... Read More
Female and male athletes respond to training in a fairly... Read More
The Benefits of SnackingYou may feel regretful about snacking, but... Read More
1. Enjoy what you eatWhether someone is following the Atkins... Read More
Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
ABC News has recently focused on the possible anti-aging benefits... Read More
A hundred years ago, life was very different here on... Read More
Nutrition |