Turning to artificial sweeteners is sometimes the option of those who are trying to lower on the consumption of sugar and calories in their diet. In fact, these types of substitutes are found nonetheless in most varieties of food and beverages. Most of these are marketed with the label “sugar-free” or “diet”.
Artificial sweeteners are used in many ways in order to substitute sugar because they virtually add zero calories in the diet. Likewise, you would only require a little amount of this compared to natural sugar.
But does it really validate the usefulness of this revolutionary ingredient in the market? To help you decide whether to use it or not, here are some pros and cons of using artificial sweeteners.
Pros of Artificial Sweeteners
1. Tooth and Gum Care.
The good news about artificial sweeteners is that they do not cause tooth decay or even create cavities. Unlike natural sugar, they provide no volume or bulk that allows you to consume only a little leaving your teeth and gums sugar-free.
2. Controlling Weight.
The appealing aspect of artificial sweeteners is the absence of calories. However, they are not that accurate. In fact, a gram of regular table sugar contains four calories. But for those who are trying to lose some weight, this is a very attractive option because the amount of calories is low enough to keep you fit.
3. Diabetes Control.
If a person has diabetes, one of the most effective options is to use artificial sweeteners. They do not raise the blood sugar levels as these are not carbohydrates. The good thing is that they are found in most drinks like coffee, juices, soda, etc. So, if you want to enjoy drinking your favorite beverage without fear of getting high blood sugar, try looking for one that uses artificial sweeteners.
Cons of Artificial Sweeteners
1. Addiction.
The regular intake of this type of product has observed to result to addiction. Such sweeteners enable patrons to purchase diet soda and other sweetened beverages because they have been added with sweeteners. Because of this, it also results to the change in taste buds. These sweeteners can also develop the cravings and activate the areas of the brain where it ultimately causes addiction.
2. Health Concerns.
The consumption of other types of sweeteners has been reported to have negative side-effects. Such would include attention deficit disorders, headaches, and seizures to name a few. Other people have experienced constipation, heart palpitations, and swelling of certain parts of the body. Even others complain to have increased their body weight, caloric intake, and fat percentage.
3. Cancer.
There are many scrutinizers of artificial sweeteners. Critics even link them to various health problems, including cancer. The unregulated use of these sugar substitutes has caused these irregularities in the health conditions of consumers. The U.S. National Cancer Institute also said that there is no scientific evidence that any of the sweeteners that are approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has caused cancer or any other relevant conditions.
Perhaps it is the responsibility of the consumers to consult their dietician if what they are going to take are regulated safe for consumption to ensure that no health-related problems occur.
Crystal Lombardo is a contributing editor for Vision Launch. Crystal is a seasoned writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She has been an editor of three popular blogs that each have had over 500,000 monthly readers.
