Know Sugar Alternatives Better

The increased awareness about bad effects of sugar has led the food and beverage industry to low-calorie, healthy alternatives for sugar.

True, it provides nothing but “empty calorie” to give instant energy. Hyperactivity in children, diabetic rise and dental cavities are all to be credited to sugar. Sugar causes decreased absorption of calcium and magnesium. It also tends to retain water and salt in body and hence raising blood pressure. To add, if you did not know, sugar can damage the immune system if taken in excess.

The most common sugar alternatives include aspartame, stevia, saccharin and polyols. Each ingredient has their own share of discrepancies.

Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sucrose and is made up by using two amino acids. One is L-phenyl-analine and second is aspartic acid. Aspartame is restricted to be given to children since it is said to damage their brain. On the other hand, phenylketonuric patients must never take aspartame since they can’t metabolize the amino-acid.

Stevia is a plant. It is listed as a dietary supplement but is yet to be used as a legal sugar alternative in US.

Saccharin too has stories attached to it. When saccharin was experimented on rodents, it showed development of bladder tumor. Studies are still on.

The new wave in the list sugar alternatives are Polyols. Polyols are neither sugars nor alcohol. These are prepared by hydrogenation of the sugar. These are easily digestible and have been declared by the America dental association that they do not promote cavities.

They have considerably less amount of glycemic index. This is another advantage not just for calorie cautious people but also for diabetic patients.

No matter which sugar alternative your use, you must always consult your physician. Do not replace daily sugar completely with an Over the Counter Sugar alternative, especially when you are facing some health disorder.