Comparing Sweeteners

Compare some popular artificial sweeteners with ordinary table sugar.

Sucrolose -- a chlorinated sucrose derivative-- in dry - adv. no calorie sweetener but bulking agents are 86% of calories of sugar in drinks
no bulk agent = no calories made by chlorination of sucrose.

3 of group of sucrose replaced with chlorine atoms

Splenda (1976 discussed) 500x sweeter than sucrose -- stored in body fat, suitable for baking, doesn't affect blood sugar, but is possible trigger for migraines.

Xylitol - (from Finland) from plants, does not cause acid in mouth - therefore no tooth decay (good in gum) does not trigger insulin release. bulk crystal powder.

Aspartame -- (Nutrasweet 1981) -- some studies show side effects. -- stays in body longest, can't be heated - turns into formaldehyde -- limites use of some vitamins, antioxidents and magnesium and linked to brain tumours.

Saccharin -- early 1900's (overuse gives bladder cancer)

Agave nectar - hyper sweet - natural - high in calories

Stevia - natural herb - 30-100x sweeter than sugar -- taste is not ideal.
Study = lower sperm count (Dr Oz: "No drink is worth sterility").

Sucrose or table sugar is a disaccharide composed of glucose 50% and fructose 50% which are chemically bonded. This bond can be broken in a weak acid environment and so is broken during digestion. This hydrolysis process is enabled by the enzyme sucrose which regulates the breakdown and controls the rate of sugar absorption into the bloodstream.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup -- the 2 sugars in this are not bonded into one molecule but are in 2 separate molecules. So the fructose is more readily available to wreck havoc and is implicated in obesity, insulin resistance, heart disease and diabetes complications.

Look for High-Fructose Corn Syrup in:

• fructose-glucose
• glucose-fructose
• corn syrup
• modified corn starch
• fructose sucrose
• corn sweetener
• corn syrup or corn syrup solids
• fructose
• fruit juice concentrate
• high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)

and other variations because remember it is not an ingredient that must be identified in a specific form.

In moderation, use table sugar, honey and maple sugar instead.