Artificial sweeteners are substitutes for artificial sugar under FDA control and are one of the most common ingredients in supplements and processed foods. These compounds can be 100 to 600 times sweeter than regular sugar, but have few or no calories.
These unique combinations with high sweetness and low calories, make them ideal for those who want to satisfy their taste and desire for sweets without considering the dangers of sugar.
Safety
Because we want to avoid the possible side effects of overuse of artificial sweeteners, understanding the amounts that are considered safe is especially helpful when it comes to consuming sugar. Sugar has a variety of problems, including an increased risk of tooth decay, weight gain, and the possibility of developing or worsening diabetes.
Many of these sweeteners have been implicated in animal and human laboratory experiments as the cause of some diseases. It is important to understand the characteristics (risks / benefits) of each sweetener so that you can make informed decisions about the foods you choose to consume.
The following list describes the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of some prominent artificial sweeteners. This list also introduces the amount of foods containing artificial sweeteners that offer a dose equivalent to the standard ADI.
Saccharin
ADI is 5 mg / kg: equivalent to 9 to 12 powder packs per day
Aspartame
ADI is equal to 50 mg / kg: equivalent to approximately 19 cans of diet soda per day
Sucralose
ADI equals 5 mg / kg: equivalent to 6 cans of cola diet per day
Acesulfame K (Acesulfame K)
ADI equals 15 mg / kg: equivalent to 31 to 32 cans of diet lemon per day
ADI (and other Consumer Diet Standards or DRIs) are international health-food standards designed and recommended to replace a diet that has been around for almost 50 years.
The best artificial sweeteners
1) Saccharin
It is the oldest and most popular artificial sweetener and is thought to be 300 to 500 times sweeter than table sugar.
Laboratory experiments in mice in the 1970s linked saccharin to the progression of bladder cancer, especially in rats. In response to these studies, the FDA ordered foods containing saccharin to be labeled:
Using this product may be dangerous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
However, subsequent studies have shown that the mechanism of cancer formation in mice is not similar to that in humans. Because there was no clear evidence that saccharin consumption leads to bladder cancer in humans. Saccharin was removed from the US Toxicology Program report on carcinogens in 2000 and removed from other approved lists of dangerous compounds awaiting further investigation.
2) Aspartame
Aspartame, measured 200 times sweeter than sugar, was accidentally discovered in 1965. It was not confirmed until 1981 due to numerous conflicting studies linking it to cancer. Aspartame contains phenylalanine, an essential amino acid in the body. Excessive consumption of phenylalanine may cause side effects in the body.
Products containing aspartame have a warning label:
“Phenylketonuric – contains phenylalanine”
The amino acid DL-phenylalanine should be used with caution in case of pregnancy or diabetes, hypertension or anxiety attacks.
3) Sucralose
Sucralose was discovered in 1976 and was measured 6 times sweeter than sugar. Preliminary reports suggest that sucralose may lead to adverse effects on the thymus, an organ essential for proper autoimmune function. Further studies have shown no adverse effects on the thymus and no possible carcinogenic, reproductive or neurological complications.
There is limited clinical evidence that sucralose may lead to migraines. In addition, a small-scale study of obese individuals showed that sucralose increased peak plasma glucose levels and increased insulin secretion.
Further research is needed to investigate the effects of sucralose on blood glucose and insulin responses and the development of migraines before definitive conclusions can be drawn. According to the relevant clinical literature reviewed for this report, sucralose is known to have the least adverse effects among these four artificial sweeteners.
4) Potassium Assulfam
Potassium acesulfame, often labeled Acesulfame K or Ace K, was discovered in 1967 and is thought to be 180 to 200 times sweeter than table sugar. In laboratory research, conflicting studies on rodent species have shown a potential but unconfirmed risk of carcinogenesis. However, the FDA and international health agencies have endorsed it as a dietary supplement.
Additional studies in rodents have raised concerns about the association of this sweetener with cognitive dysfunction in chronic use as well as the risks of prenatal development, especially the long-term effects of food flavor use on offspring. Scientists and critics are constantly advocating for clinical trials in this area, especially to assess the risks of long-term use of potassium acesulfame in humans.
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