Artificial Sweetener | Debunking the Myth

There were controversies encircling artificial sweetener over the last 30-years, it is generally utilized by dieters to reduce calories, diabetics to reduce carbohydrates and food producers to meet the needs of their consumers. Despite the approval of FDA, there are still a lot of people who are skeptical about the safety of consuming artificial sweetener in the long run. Saccharin, stevia, aspartame, and sucralose are among the widely used artificial sweeteners in the market today and some of the common myths, which adhere to these products.

Saccharin

Myth: Long-term Usage Causes Cancer.

The Truth: During 1970s, a research demonstrated that saccharin precipitated bladder cancer in mice. This incident prompted the usage of “warning labels” on saccharin-containing foods. Later on, it had been confirmed that the cancer found in mice was caused by the rat physiology itself and is not applicable to humans. Human epidemiologic research had been conducted, but nothing had demonstrated evidence that artificial sweetener like saccharin could indeed cause cancer.

Aspartame

Myth: Usage of aspartame leads to methanol toxicity.

The Truth: Methanol is actually a by-product of aspartame metabolism. But bear in mind that methanol is also a “common” by-product of various foods, which we eat every day. In a study conducted, bananas revealed a higher level of methanol and tomato juice results five times more methanol content. The tolerable level for methanol has been established by the Food and Drug Administration at around 50 mg /kg/day each day. Many experts have determined that people who use an artificial sweetener are only utilizing 45% of this level.

Stevia

Myth: Stevia is an organic product, so it is safe to take.

The Truth: Stevia was derived from stevia plant and it’s SAFE to take in its “most processed” form. However, don’t be tricked by the concept that anything “organic” is safe to consume. Stevia, which is NOT “highly purified” could cause renal problems and other various conditions. Therefore, don’t acquire a stevia plant and make use of the leaves as the artificial sweetener in your foods; rather, we advise you to buy stevia that had already undergone the process of purification like those that are present in the grocery stores and sold in their “powder” form.

Sucralose

Myth: Sucralose, along with other artificial sweeteners, leads to weight gain.

The Truth: A recent research has demonstrated a connection between weight-gain and the usage of artificial sweetener. The principal theory is that when a person consumes an artificial sweetener the body will “expect” for the real sugar and may continue to crave or desire additional foods until the needs are satisfied, leading to higher calorie consumption in the long run. However, this kind of effect hasn’t been observed whenever artificial sweetener is ingested together with other calorie-containing foods. These lead to a conclusion that consuming artificial sweetener won’t affect the person’s diet.