Sugar substitutes have been around for a while now. The business is booming as people try and find easy ways to cut calories. While a lot of people are consuming them, if you stop and ask them what the benefits are, most people don’t know. Lots of people are adding them to coffee, tea, sugar, baked goods – without even giving it a second thought. Sugar substitutes have become the norm.
Are sugar substitutes good for you?
There has been a lot of talk in the media about sugar substitutes and the harmful effects they may have when we consume them. After research, studies are beginning to show what the possible effects are.
We are all aware how much healthier, successful, and amazing our lives would be overall if we just lost some weight. Sugar substitutes provide an easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth while cutting down on calories. It sounds like a dream come true!
The three main ingredients in sugar substitutes are:
- Aspartame
- Sucralose
- Saccharin
Over the past few years, artificial sweeteners containing aspartame have been particularly controversial in the news. Research is starting to show the connection with certain ailments in people who consume products that contain aspartame.
These ailments may include:
- Severe chronic headaches
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Inflammation
While the government hasn’t come out and said that aspartame is a definite concern with these ailments, it has come to be a personal choice at this point. Some people who used aspartame claimed that these ailments are possible side effects when consuming this chemical mixture that is supposed to help you lose weight and consume less calories.
In the 1970s a study on saccharin showed that it may be linked to cancer in rats. Since more studies showed no translation to humans, the product was able to be kept on the market. This is another matter of personal choice.
One of the benefits of sucralose, according to those who consume it, is that it tastes like real sugar and you can use it in baked goods. Studies have shown that sucralose may have some adverse effects on how the body responds to sugar, which could increase your potential risk for diabetes.
In my opinion? We should be avoiding sugars AND substitute sugars. You can’t switch from drinking 4 cokes and a day and instead drink 4 diet cokes a day. You aren’t getting the ‘sugars’, but diet coke is equally as unhealthy when you think about the sugar substitutes used to sweeten the diet cokes.
There is still a lot of speculation surrounding artificial sweeteners and their effects on our bodies, some even claiming that there are cancer causing properties. It is so important that you do your own research and make an informed decision on what is best for you.
There are lots of natural sweetener options, like adding lemon and lime slices to your beverages and keeping sugary juices to a minimum. When it comes to what you put in your body, the decision is ultimately yours.
Long before they declared aspartame a hazard I had trouble with it. I am an asthmatic and every time I had a diet pepsi or ate anything with aspartame I would have an asthma attack or stomach problems. Try to take out anything artificial in your food and eat the real stuff you will be healthier. Obviously eat sugar and butter in moderation.
Thank you for sharing!! It’s so important to eat real foods, and not chemically made products!