artificial sweeteners

JimmyScotland

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Not many. I can put up with lots of negativity in all forms, it just makes me more determined to succeed when I meet a brick wall lol.
Demand for artificial sweeteners has soared over the years as more and more people become aware of their benefits, which include reducing your calorie-intake from sugar and helping people with diabetes maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K (the ''K'' refers to the mineral potassium) is a commonly used tabletop sweetener that has 200 times the level of sweetness as sugar. It is also a common additive to puddings, confections, and alcoholic drinks.
Disadvantages
Acesulfame-K can leave a bitter taste when used on its own.
Animal studies have indicated higher use to be associated with greater risk of cancers. [100]
Aspartame
Aspartame is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners. It is derived from a combination of two amino acids: phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which are then combined with methanol to produce a substance that is 180-200 times sweeter than sugar.
Disadvantages
Aspartame can not be used for baking or cooking as it is not stable in heat or for long periods in liquid form.
There have been reports of side effects, ranging from allergic skin reactions and respiratory problems to headaches and dizziness.
Research on monkeys and rats indicate possible causation of seizures and brain tumours.
Mannitol and Sorbitol
Disadvantages
Consuming certain amounts of both these sugar alcohols (over 49 grams of sorbitol and more than 19 grams of mannitol) can cause some people to experience a laxative effect.
Saccharin
Disadvantages
Animal studies indicate heavy usage saccharin to be associated with bladder cancer. Human studies have yet to show a clear association but people in certain subgroups, such as heavy smoking males, may be at increased risk.
Stevia
Derived from a plant in South America, Stevia is a calorie-free herb that is actually used as a pre-packaged replacement for sugar and artificial sweeteners. It is sold as a herbal powdered extract in most health food stores and is incredibly sweet, with the refined extracts of Stevia (steviosides) reported to have 200-300 times the amount of sweetness as sugar.
Disadvantages
Stevia does not caramelise as sugar does.
Studies conducted by US researchers in the 1980s suggested that DNA changes occurred when stevia was tested with a certain bacteria. Certain health organisations are still not sure of its safety, with the US Food and Drug Administration defining it as an unapproved food additive when in whole leaf or crude-extract form on account of it having not been clinically tested in these forms.
Sucralose (Splenda)
Disadvantages
The bulking agents used in Splenda can add around 12 calories per tablespoon of the mixture - calories which are usually not listed on the packaging.
The use of Splenda can change the texture in baking recipes and can also add an 'artificial' taste when used as the only sweetener in the recipe.
There are claims that preliminary animal based studies have linked the use of Splenda to organ damage.
Studies in rats have found sucralose to be associated with reduced levels of beneficial bacteria within the gut. [99]
Articifial sweeteners in moderation
While artificial sweeteners are designed to help people satisfy their sweet tooth without adding the calories found in sugar, you must consumer them in moderation – just like everything else.
Also, switching to these sugar-free products should be just one part of your plan to start living healthy, and should be combined with a low-fat, nutritional diet and regular exercise, particularly if you suffer from diabetes

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/sweeteners/which-artificial-sweetener-is-right-for-me.html

edited by mod to include link.
 
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Kristin251

Expert
Messages
5,334
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
No thanks. No need for fake stuff, stomach issues or sweets. I love my wholesome unprocessed foods.
 

4ratbags

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,334
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Can't say I use any of the above intentionally, I do drink Pepsi Max but that's about it. If needed I use Erythritol in baking but I have even started omitting it from my baking.
 

Pinkorchid

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,927
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I don't bake so the only thing I ever use sweetener for at home is a sprinkle of Stevia on frozen fruit which can be very sour.
.
 
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JohnEGreen

Master
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13,189
Type of diabetes
Other
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Diet only
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Tripe and Onions
switching to these sugar-free products should be just one part of your plan to start living healthy, and should be combined with a low-fat, nutritional diet and regular exercise, particularly if you suffer from diabetes
It all seems to be so sensible informative good advice almost makes you think they know what they're talking about until they use the words healthy nutritional and low fat in one sentence with diabetes.
 

DavidGrahamJones

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,263
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
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Newspapers
I prefer to taste the tea or coffee, why bother with a sweetener?

I agree with JohnEGreen, "low-fat, nutritional diet" for diabetes suffers, sensible advice up to that point. It invokes a lot of things really, although a lot of people have a lot to put up with in their diabetes care, as someone with diabetes, I don't suffer. Also, the "low-fat, nutritional diet" is missing the lower carb bit or have I got it wrong all this time? One of the strange things about low fat in say yoghurt, is that it frequently means more sugar.
 

Pedaldog

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I've been using sweeteners in my coffee and tea for almost 40 years.

I now find sugar has a bad taste.

Go figure.

I'm the same.Can't cope with unsweetened coffee but I drink a HUGE AMOUNT OF COFFEE in a normal day. i use the Sweetex brand and anything else, bar real sugar, tastes wrong.