Pros and Cons of Sweeteners
If you are suffering from diabetes or obesity and your physician has advised you to stay away from sugar, you might consider adding sweeteners to your tea and desserts. Different types of sweeteners are available.
Sweeteners are divided into two broad categories – natural sweeteners and artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners are safe and have hardly any side effect. The artificial sweeteners on the other hand have the same sweetness as sugar, sans its high calorie, but prolonged use of these sweeteners might cause complications.
Natural Sweetener
Natural sweeteners are more expensive than artificial sweeteners. In the liquid form, they have a short shelf life. Fruit juice, honey, sugar alcohol derived from fruits and Stevia are common natural sweeteners. Stevia is a calorie-free sweetener, but the high calorie content of fruit juice does not make it a preferable sugar alternative.
Stevia is made from honey leaf, sweet leaf and Truvia. This sweetener has been inadequately tested. Therefore, we are not completely aware of its side effects. Some studies have found that Stevia might cause DNA damage.
Artificial Sweetener
The common artificial sweeteners are saccharin, aspartame, neotame, sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Some of these sweeteners are believed to be safe for the body, whereas others if used for a prolonged period in large doses might be harmful for the body. Saccharin, which was once a cheap and popular sweetener, is now considered unsafe for consumption.
This artificial sweetener is banned in Canada. Animal studies have found saccharin to be a carcinogenic compound. Aspartame that is sold as NutraSweet or Equal might lead to allergies, disabilities and certain illnesses, especially among people suffering from phenylketonuria.
The phenylalanine content of aspartame might cause brain tumor, brain cancer, memory loss, insomnia, epilepsy, mental disorders, migraine, menstrual problem, irregular heart beats, joint pains. Pregnant women should avoid this chemical, because it might damage the fetus.
No significant side effects have yet been detected in artificial sweeteners such as Neotame, Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium.
