What should you know before choosing a sweetener?

• May 1, 2024

Mexico, like several countries worldwide, is the victim of an epidemic that is beginning to cause concern to the public health sector: Some experts point out that excessive consumption of sugar is a cause of overweight and obesity but, Are artificial sweeteners a healthy alternative?

Before you decide to change the sugar in your coffee or drink for an artificial sweetener, GetQoralHealth , with information from the portal CNN , gives you four things you should know about sweeteners before you go for this option:

1. What are they made of? Each sweetener has a different chemical composition. There is sucralose (Splenda), acesulfame potassium (Sweet One), aspartame (NutraSweet), neotame and saccharin (Sweet'N Low). Aspartame is the most widely used diet soda and is composed of two amino acids: aspartic acid and phenylalanine, according to the American Cancer Society.

According to the professor of Nutrition at the Gillings School of Public Health at the University of Carolina from North, Barry Popkin, they all have different flavor effects and people react differently to each of them.

2. What is your difference with classic sugar? The vitamin and mineral content of the processed table sugar does not differ significantly from that of the substitutes. However, the latter are more easily detected by the body, so its consumption is less. For Eric Walters, author of "The Sweetener Book," it indicates that the sweet taste receptor of the body is not very sensitive. It really only detects sugar in large quantities.

3. They are detonators of cancer. The National Cancer Institute of the United States s Note that there is no clear evidence that artificial sweeteners can cause cancer in humans.

4. Are they better than sugar? For Eric Walters artificial sugars have different advantages and disadvantages. If you're worried about calories, then stay away from sugar. If what worries you most is the quality of the flavor, the sugar usually tastes better.

However, some artificial sweeteners may have mild side effects. If, for example, you consume a lot of sorbitol, it can cause you gas and diarrhea because the body does not digest it very well.

Like all food, these must be consumed with limitation. Remember, to take care of your health a balanced diet is the best option.

Video Medicine: How to Choose Your Sweetener | Herbalife Healthy Eating Advice (May 2024).