Sweet’N
Low--Saccharin
Information: Claimed to be 300
times sweeter than sugar and was banned in 1977 when animal testing showed rats
developed bladder cancer. The warning
label was dropped in 2000. Saccharin’s molecules
come from petroleum.
Pros: Can be baked with and
has 0 calories.
Cons: Has been listed since
the 1980’s as an “anticipated human carcinogen”. Smoking men who use this sweetener may be at
risk if they consume large yet unspecified amounts. No extensive research has been done in
pediatrics and pregnant women/children should use sparingly.
Neotame
Information: Neotame
is a newer artificial sweetener that is chemically similar to aspartame.
It was approved by the FDA in 2002.
Pros: It has
zero calories. You
can bake with it. It's
approved for pregnant women.
Cons: Neotame
is potentially as toxic as aspartame, these sweeteners break down to form
methanol.
Splenda--Sucralose
Information: This sweetener
contains maltodextrin which is made from corn starch, rice starch, or potato
starch (it’s gluten free), it’s been approved by the FDA in 1999 and is 600x
sweeter than sugar.
Pros: No calories, can be
baked with. The FDA concluded after 110
studies it does not pose any threats to reproduction, no toxic or carcinogenic
effects or neurological risks to the population
Cons: Maltodextrin does add
about 12 calories per Tablespoon, this is not listed on the nutrition facts.
You may notice an artificial sweetener taste if you bake with it.
Sorbitol, Mannitol
Information: Naturally occurring
sugar alcohols that come from fruit.
They are made for use as artificial sweeteners.
Pros: FDA made the
GRAS—Generally Regarded As Safe. They
digest slowly.
Cons: Consuming large
quantities (particularly found in ice cream and other frozen desserts) can
cause abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
This can happen around 49 g of sorbitol or 19 g or more of manitol.
Stevia
Information: Comes
from a South American plant and has been used in South America for the last 30
years.
Pros: It
naturally has 0 calories but skeptics argue that because of the refining
process to extract stevia, it should still be considered an artificial
sweetener.
Cons: This
is sold as a dietary supplement and is not regulated by the FDA.
Acesulfame-K—Sweet
One or Sunette
Information: 200
times sweeter than sugar and the body is unable to digest it so to comes out as
waste unchanged.
Pros: 0
calories and does not increase the risk of cancer or change blood sugar levels,
it can be used in baked goods and it safe for consumption by pregnant women.
Cons: It
does present with a bitter taste on its own, The Center For Science In The
Public Interest feels that the studies on this sweetener were not
satisfactorily done and did not test extensively its cancer causing risks.
Aspartame—Equal
and NutraSweet
Information: About
180-200 times sweeter than sugar.
Roughly 70% is used in carbonated beverages. The FDA has set the appropriate daily intake
as 4-12 oz cans of diet drink per day and it was approved in 1996.
Pros: One
gram = 4 calories. It has been approved
for pregnant women under the aforementioned guidelines.
Cons: It
can be baked with some people claim a food allergy or insensitivity to
aspartame and may have headaches, mood changes, skin reactions, or dizziness.
--
Gina Lesako RD, LD is the SCAN blog coordinator (those interested in writing for SCAN can email her directly at glesako@gmail.com). She can also be found blogging at http://dietitianseatchocolatetoo.blogspot.com/). Find her on SCAN: http://www.scandpg.org/dietitians/15720/
