Artificial Sweeteners And Their Applications

Author: Joe Fowler Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about Artificial Sweeteners And Their Applications. Artificial sweeteners are used as a lower-calorie alternative to sugar..

Most people love sweets, but try to avoid the calories and damage to the teeth that sugar brings. All sugars, no matter simple or complex, contain 4 kcal of energy per gram. Sweeteners such as sucrose, fructose, honey and brown sugar provide energy and are called dietary sugars.

Other such sugars for sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and others. These sweeteners have a lower caloric value, reduce the glycemic response and are more conducive to dental health. They provide fewer calories because they are absorbed more slowly and incompletely than sugar.

Sweeteners provide no more than 2-3 kcal per gram. Due to the fact that they are not fully absorbed, they can increase the water content in the colon and cause diarrhea .

In the last few years, sweeteners have gained not very good fame. According to the latest data, they are known to be less dangerous to health if not used regularly. Contrary to popular belief, alternative sweeteners have been declared safe (when used judiciously) for children, adults and people with diabetes. Pregnant women should discuss the consumption of alternative sweeteners with the attending physician. In general, sweeteners are safe to consume during pregnancy in amounts announced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and health organizations.

Saccharin. It was discovered in the late 19th century and is almost 300 times sweeter than sugar. It is one of the most widely used sweeteners, but there are reports that it can be dangerous to health. More than 20 years of in-depth research has confirmed the safety of saccharin when used in the recommended amounts. Saccharin is currently used in many beverages and foods and as an alternative to sugar by patients with diabetes.

Acesulfame K (acesulfame potassium) is also a widely used sweetener that does not contain any calories. It is 175 times sweeter than sugar. Used as a sweetener in chewing gum, candy, carbonated drinks, teas, coffees, pastries, etc. The taste and qualities of Acesulfame-K do not change when heated, so it can be used for cooking. This sweetener is not absorbed by the body and is excreted unchanged in the urine.

Artificial Sweeteners And Their Applications

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