Make life sweet but be careful Blog | UCBMSH – Paramedical Degree courses college in Dehradun( Doon ) , Uttarakhand , India .

Natural sweeteners like sugar cause a rapid in the body calories, this is a dangerous situation for the people who are suffering with. So the people are advised to use the artificial sweeteners to reduce the threat from diseases and to maintain a healthy body.

Artificial sweeteners are low calorie substances which are used as sweetening agents to replace sugar and other calorific food substances. Artificial Sweeteners are useful in controlling blood sugar level and Insulin levels in the body.

Many kinds of artificial sweeteners are available in the market

1. Saccharin –

Saccharin was the first artificial sweetener, discovered in 1879 by ConstantinFahlberg at Johns Hopkins University. Saccharin is easy to make, stable when heated, and is approximately 300 times sweeter than sucrose when equal quantities are compared. Saccharin does not accumulate in body tissues. It is a weak carcinogen, saccharin consumption may be a risk for every person (Anon;2011).

2. Aspartame-

Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by James Schlatter at G.D. Searle & Company. Aspartame is relatively easy to make and is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose. It is most commonly sold as Nutra Sweet and Equal.In the body, aspartame is broken down into/absorbed as products that include aspartate, phenylalanine, and methanol. Phenylalanine is toxic to individuals who are homozygous (having identical genes in homologous chromosomes) for phenylketonuria, a genetic disease wherein individuals cannot catabolize phenylalanine. Phenylketonuria causes mental retardation.

 

3. Acesulfame-K–

Acesulfame-K was discovered in 1967 by scientists working at Hoechst AG. It is also called Sunett. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. It has a long shelf life and does not break down in foods that are cooked orbaked. Over ninety studies have been completed that have concluded that acesulfame-K is safe.

4. Sucralose-

Sucralose was discovered in 1976 by researchers at Tate & Lyle PLC. It is also called Splenda. Sucralose is approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar and is stable at high temperatures.It was approved by the FDA in 1998–1999, and it is supported by a safety database of more than 110 studies. Possible side effects associated with breakdown products (which include chlorine and 1,6-dichlorofructose), shrunken thymus glands.

About authoress– The authoress is assistant professor and research scholar in uttranchal college of biomedical sciences and hospital Dehradun with specialization in Biochemistry.