Definition of a sugar substitute, aka, artificial sweetener: compounds which have been chemically, or artificially, altered. Sucralose has been marketed as being made from sugar, however, though its makers do use sugar initially, they convert the sugar chemically during the manufacturing process so that it actually is not sugar any longer when this process is complete. (this includes "natural" sugar substitutes such as Splenda).
Splenda is by far the most commonly used low calorie sweetener at this time and claims are that Splenda is made from sugar. This would lead consumers to believe that since it is made from sugar, it must be safe. It is just sugar without a molecule, right?
According to Businessweek, Sucralose (the chemical name for Splenda) is a sugar molecule with three of the hydroxyl groups replaced with chlorine atoms. The Businessweek article further states that Splenda is actually a highly processed chemical sweetener, created with chlorine and other compounds.
So, is a artificial sweetener really so bad for your body? It's your call. According to the FDA, its safe. Use your own judgement. When one really does the research as to what goes into an artifical sweetener and how it is chemically and artificially created...personally, I say no way is it safe. Is there an immediate negative overall affect on the body? Probably not. Over an extended time? Yes. Negative side effects such as headaches, dizziness, weight gain, diarrhea, and vision problems are simply a few of the problems that have been reported. Not to mention reports of links to alzheimers disease and cancer. Curiously, although there are strong and valid suspicions to the link between substitute sweeteners and these serious diseases, no major studies have been conducted. Listen to your body; how do you feel after using artificial sweeteners over time? How do you feel after stopping or minimizing your consumption?
So, is consuming the real thing better? I say yes, but it's all about moderation and the type of sugar you are consuming. Is your daily sugar intake coming from a soft drink or fruit? Obviously eating a candy bar vs. a real fruit smoothie sweetened with honey is not exactly a healthy source of sugar, nor is it the healthful sugars your body makes use of for fuel. Humans do NEED sugar; just look at the way your body processes food. Every single thing you eat – carbohydrate, protein or even fat – is broken down into sugar (glucose). This is how our cells utilize food for fuel.
Wouldn’t it be even MORE efficient and make MORE sense to get this sugar from a healthy, whole, easy-to-digest source? Unlike what modern medicine, media, and mainstream raw foodists will have you believe, all sugar is NOT the same.
When it comes to refined sweets, most people have it right. Processed sugary foods provide nutritionally deficient calories and hold no place in a healthy diet. This includes alternative, substitute, artificial sweeteners.
Again, use your better judgement: We need sugar but pay attention to where you are getting it and how much. I say stay away from artificial, refined, and processed sugars. Natural and whole is best!
Read more at Suite101: Are Chemical, Low Calorie Sweeteners Safe Alternatives to Sugar? http://www.suite101.com/content/are-chemical-low-calorie-sweetners-safe-alternatives-to-sugar-a270863#ixzz19iruhLUe
Read more at Suite101: Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe?: The Pros and Cons of Sugar Substitutes http://www.suite101.com/content/artificial-sweeteners-a216445#ixzz19itI4Whc
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