Three popular chemical, artificial sweeteners are saccharin (Sweet 'n Low), aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) and sucralose (Splenda). Their appeal has always been to have a sweet taste with no calories; here are additional facts about each one:
Saccharin
- 300 times as sweet as sugar
- Listed as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1972
- Proposed ban in 1977 under suspicion of causing cancer
- Switched back to safe in 2000
Aspartame
- 180 times as sweet as sugar
- Approved in 1981
- Used extensively in diet sodas and thousands of other foods
- Thousands complain to the FDA about bad health effects
Sucralose
- 600 times as sweet as sugar
- Approved in 1998
- Made by attaching three chlorine atoms to a sugar molecule
- Failed animal tests and long-term safety unknown
These much-used sugar substitutes are causing disquiet because of continuing evidence that their use causes people to actually gain weight, and suspicion that they increase the appetite for more sweets. The substitutes have no nutritional value, cause numerous unhealthy symptoms and have failed animal tests that have been overlooked by the FDA.
Natural Sweeteners
Natural sweeteners have an advantage over the artificial sweeteners in that they contain nutrients, are trustworthy and healthy, but most contain calories. The top naturals are:
Honey
- One third sweeter than sugar and least processed of the naturals
- Doesn't spike blood sugar
- Raw honey aids in digestion (not for children less than two years of age)
Maple Syrup
- 60% sucrose
- One gallon uses 30 to 50 gallons of maple tree sap
- Has a low glycemic index (54)
Tagatose (Naturlose)
- Made from milk sugar
- 92% as sweet as sugar
- One third calories of sugar
Xylitol
- 60% as sweet as sugar
- Used in chewing gum and other products
- Doesn't increase blood sugar; laxative effect at high doses
Here it is, the Safest, Best Sugar Substitute
Stevia is a South American herb (stevia rebaudiana) that is 300 times sweeter than sugar; completely natural containing nutrients but no calories. Stevia significantly lowers blood pressure and doesn't spike blood sugar. And if that is not enough, stevia promotes dental health by reducing plaque. Michael Murray, M.D., in his February 2004 Natural Facts online newsletter, stated that stevia has noted healthy effects, an excellent safety record and is used in many countries.
The Obstruction
Stevia must be classified as a dietary supplement instead of a food additive, due to pressure by the artificial sugar industry. So that means it couldn't be added to soft drinks as a sweetener, until soon that is. Cargill, Incorporated has produced the new product Truvia that will sell as a table-top sweetener. In 2009 Cargill and Coca-Cola will team up to sell a soft drink containing Truvia.
The Bolt from the Blue
But here's the most up-to-date news about stevia, as reported in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (August 28, 2008, Andrea James): the naturally-sweet herb stevia has been included in a new soft drink called Zevia. The Seattle-based company is selling their product in about 900 stores across the country. But wait, don't call Zevia a soft drink, even though it sells right next to other sodas, the FDA still says it has to be called a dietary supplement.
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