Avoiding Artificial Sweeteners
Not only are most artificial sweeteners bad for you but some studies have shown that they may actually make you crave more food. They trigger a response in the body that makes the sensation of hunger return sooner. If a label says “lite,” “sugar-free,” or “low-calorie” the product most likely has an artificial sweetener. Also, products that have warnings for phenylkinetics contain aspartame. Artificial sweeteners often have a bad or “off” aftertaste and leave a slimy feeling in your mouth. They are also known the cause headaches ranging from mild to severe migraines.
Artificial sweeteners currently approved by the FDA are acesulfame-K, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, neotame. Artificial sweeteners banned by the FDA are cyclamate (however it has been submitted for reapproval), dulcin, glucin, and P-4000. Alitame has been submitted by Pfizer for FDA approval.
Acesulfame-K is also called acesulfame potassium, Sunette, Sweet One and Sweet ‘n Safe. It is about 150-200 times sweeter than sucrose. It is normally used in conjunction with aspartame or other sweeteners to give it more of a “sugar like” taste. It is heat stable and can be used in baked goods. It is currently in approximately 4000 foods including chewing gum, desserts, alcoholic beverages, syrups, candies, sauces and yogurt. Acesulfame-K has a bitter aftertaste and Kraft Foods has patented the use of sodium ferulate to mask the taste.
The safety of acesulfame-K has not been proven and some studies have shown that it can cause cancer. The National Toxicology Program has claimed that it is safe in doses less than 3% and has recommended further research into its safety.
Aspartame is also known as Equal, Nutrasweet, and Canderel. It is about 160-220 times sweeter than sucrose and contains 4 calories/gram. Since it is so sweet only a small amount is needed for sweetening so it is labeled as zero calorie per serving. Aspartame is in diet sodas, Dannon Yogurt, Swiss Miss Cocoa Mix and numerous candy. Overall it is found in approximately 6000 foods worldwide and is often seen as a table condiment. Aspartame does not taste like sugar and is often mixed with Acesulfame-K to give it more of a sweet taste.
Saccharin is also known as Sweet ‘N Low and Sugar Twin. It is estimated to somewhere between 200-700 times sweeter than sugar. In 1977 a study found that it caused bladder cancer and all products with saccharin were required to be labeled with “Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.” In May 2000 the US government released an updated list of things known to cause cancer and removed saccharin from the list. Saccharin is not only used as a condiment, but is in Listerine, Crest toothpaste, cough syrup, and many food items. Saccharin has a bitter or metallic aftertaste. In countries where both saccharin and cyclamate are legal they are often mixed in a ratio of 10:1 to mask the other’s off-taste. Aspartame has a relatively short shelf life so saccharin is often included in diet sodas syrup to extend the shelf life.
Sucralose is also known as Splenda and is about 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is the only sugar substitute made from sugar and is heat stable so it can used cooking. It is in about 4500 foods worldwide and is often seen in combination with aspartame and high fructose corn syrup.
Neotame is produced by Nutrasweet and is similar to aspartame in taste. It is between 7000-13000 times sweeter than sugar. It was approved for use by the FDA in 2002 and is one of only two artificial sweeteners that is considered “safe” by the consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest. The other sweetener is sucralose.
Cyclamate was banned in the US in 1969 because it was shown to cause bladder tumors in rats. It is 30-60 times sweeter than sugar and heat stable. It has an unpleasant aftertaste, although not as bad as aspartame and is often used in conjunction with saccharin to mask the taste. The FDA is currently reconsidering the ban.
Alitame is expected to be approved for use by the FDA soon. It is about 2000 times sweeter than sugar and is expected to be used in baked goods and soft drinks.
Jon Kaumans 5:15 am on June 5, 2010 Permalink
I read that the Miracle Berries (synsepalum dulcificum) is an interesting berry for taste loss. The berry changes sour foods to sweet, that way remove the need for sugar alternatives. I grow plants blog: Miracle Berries its my blog on this Magicalfruit.. I heard info about a doctor Mike Cusner he had 50 percent succes at clinical trials.