SHOPPING & COOKING GUIDES
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SHOPPING & COOKING GUIDES
A Buyer's Guide to Sugar Substitutes
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Sucralose (Splenda)
- Sold as a “tabletop sweetener” (packets used mostly to sweeten beverages)
- Commonly added to packaged foods and beverages
- Heat-stable; can be used for baking
What is it? A compound made by combining sucrose (table sugar) with three chlorine molecules. The body doesn’t digest or derive calories from sucralose.
Sweetness factor: 600 x sugar
Take note: There has been legal controversy over the Splenda slogan, “Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar.” Critics claim it falsely implies that the substitute—which was approved as an additive by the FDA in 1998—is natural, which it is not.
Our taste test: Tasters found Splenda pleasantly sweet in hot and cold teas, but some noted an objectionable metallic aftertaste. Cookies made with Splenda rated well for sweetness but poorly for texture, appearance and aftertaste. However, Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking, which is a 50/50 blend of sugar and sucralose, rated better on all counts.
Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal)
- Sold as a “tabletop sweetener” (packets used mostly to sweeten beverages)
- Commonly added to packaged foods and beverages
What is it? A compound made by combining two amino acids— phenylalanine and aspartic acid—with a methyl ester that becomes methanol, a by-product of carbohydrate fermentation. FDA-approved in 1981, aspartame is digested but because such small amounts are used to sweeten foods, its calories are negligible.
Sweetness factor: 180 x sugar
Take note: People with a rare condition known as phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot break down phenylalanine, so it can accumulate to toxic levels; thus, people with PKU must avoid all foods containing phenylalanine, including aspartame.
Our taste test: Some tasters found it to have a nice level of sweetness in hot and cold tea; others called it too sweet and “fake” tasting. Most detected a bitter aftertaste.
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| USER COMMENTS — Add Your Comment |
I have heard that sweeteners like: splenda, equal,and etc.... Aren't good for u and that it is toxic to your body! Now what I have been told by a Dr. and my nutritionist is that sweeteners absorb in your muscles and the longer it is there the more toxic it is for your body. And it also has alot to do with weight gain as well. They both had said that it is honestly better to just use regular sugar in that case. There is a natural solution, if you go to a Whole Foods or any store that has a speciality aisle, there is 2 products out there that is comp;etely natural and safe and it is also good for everybody even diabetics. Look for Stevia, which is a plant that has natural sugars and it is grown in paraguay, and also Agave Nectar, which is also good for everyone even diabetics and it comes in regular or low carb.
Tiffany Williams, Nashville, TN |
There is a little known 'allergic reaction' to aspartame which has not been studied or reviewed in any of the literature. Symptoms consist of numbness and/or coldness of the fingers; rash which does not respond to dermatologic treatments; joint aches and migraine-type headaches. These symptoms have been reported to me by at least 3 ladies--2 of them sisters and relatives of mine. The symptoms all disappeared when they eliminated aspartame products from their diets.
Rene Neville, RN, Brooklet, GA |
I'm soo confused! I have no cravings for sweets, but I do like to have a small can of diet cola in the afternoon or an iced tea when out for dinner. Is one can diet coke, or with splenda, going to harm me?
cris, SF, CA |
I quit smoking, but am now hooked on hard candy that uses NutraSweet. I heard sugar substitutes are addictive.
Donkeyboard, St. Helena, CA |
"There is a little known 'allergic reaction' to aspartame which has not been studied or reviewed in any of the literature. Symptoms consist of numbness and/or coldness of the fingers; rash which does not respond to dermatologic treatments; joint aches and migraine-type headaches. These symptoms have been reported to me by at least 3 ladies--2 of them sisters and relatives of mine. The symptoms all disappeared when they eliminated aspartame products from their diets"
Yes. There needs to be more research on this because I suffer from this. I cannot have any form of artificial sweetners as I get the rash, numbness, and migraine. Even Splenda does it as well.
Jennifer, Novi, MI |
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