A small news column in a newspaper: Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that a popular artificial sweetener can modify how the body handles sugar. The study was available online in the journal Diabetes Care, Published online before print April 30, 2013 .What is the significance of this news to diabetes people who use sweeteners in their diet? Read ON….
The Washington University School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions, currently ranked sixth in the U.S.
In a small study, the researchers analyzed the sweetener sucralose (Splenda®) in 17 severely obese people who do not have diabetes and don’t use artificial sweeteners regularly.
“Our results indicate that this artificial sweetener is not inert — it does have an effect,” said first author M. Yanina Pepino, PhD, research assistant professor of medicine. “And we need to do more studies to determine whether this observation means long-term use could be harmful.” Has the alarm bell started ringing for this sugar substitute just as it did for saccharin after 20 years of us a “safe” substitute?
Pepino’s team studied people with an average body mass index (BMI) of just over 42; A person is considered obese when BMI reaches 30. These people were selected because these sweeteners frequently are recommended to them as a way to make their diets healthier by limiting calorie intake.
“When study participants drank sucralose followed by glucose, their blood sugar peaked at a higher level than when they drank only water before consuming glucose,” Pepino explained. “Insulin levels also rose about 20 percent higher. So the artificial sweetener was related to an enhanced blood insulin and glucose response.” What is the implication of this result? Read on…
The elevated insulin response could be a good thing, she pointed out, because it shows the person is able to make enough insulin to deal with spiking glucose levels. But it also might be bad because when people routinely secrete more insulin, they can become resistant to its effects, a path that leads to type 2 diabetes.
It has been thought that artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose do not increase calorie intake and don’t have an effect on metabolism. But recent findings in animal studies suggest that some cause an increased release of hormones, such as insulin and has lead to increased absorption of glucose.
Pepino, who is part of Washington University’s Center for Human Nutrition, said those studies could help explain how sweeteners may affect metabolism, even at very low doses. But most human studies involving artificial sweeteners haven’t found comparable changes, since in many of these studies, the artificial sweetener is given by itself. But in real life, people rarely consume a sweetener by itself. They use it in their coffee or on breakfast cereal or when they want to sweeten some other food they are eating or drinking.”
Pepino says, “We have shown that sucralose is having an effect. In obese people without diabetes, we have shown sucralose is more than just something sweet that you put into your mouth with no other consequences.” “Just how sucralose influences glucose and insulin levels in people who are obese is still somewhat of a mystery. A 20 percent increase in insulin may or may not be clinically significant, further studies are needed” she added.
Because US food labeling laws have encouraged products to be called” sugar free” if they do not contain common table sugar (sucrose), the mere substitution of another sugar for sucrose has permitted the packager to deceive the consumer legally. Most so called sugar free products are sugar free, but most certainly will raise the blood sugar.
All the following will raise your blood sugar.
Corn syrup, dextrin, dextrose, fructose, glucose, honey, lactose, levulose , maltose, mannose, molasses, sacchrose, sorbitol, sorghum, xylose. Some such as sorbitol and fructose ( as in honey and fruits ) raise blood sugar more slowly than glucose but still too rapidly for one’s comfort.
It is widely believed that some non carbohydrate sweeteners given in the following list can be used without significantly affecting blood sugar.
Saccharin tablets, Aspartame tablets, Stevia powder or liquid, Sucralose tablets (Splenda), (There are reports which contradicts Splenda), Neotame tablets, Cyclamet tablets .
When the same are sold in powdered form, these usually contain a sugar to increase the bulk and will rapidly raise blood sugar. Most powdered sweeteners are sold as low-calorie and/or sugar –free sweeteners. They contain 95% glucose or equivalent and the balance, the artificial sweetener. There is a line of thought that sweeteners in tablet form are better. Stevia powder sold in powder and liquid form contain no sugar of any kind and have minute amounts of carbohydrate but is still in processed form .
The Health Dangers of Splenda, according to James Turner, the chairman of the National consumer education group ‘Citizens for Health’ are numerous. According to him, Splenda :
•reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
•increases the pH level in your intestines, and
•has crucial health effects on skin, lungs, eyes, joints and stomach.
JamesTurner says: Animal studies reveal plenty of problems, such as decreased red blood cells, increased male infertility and other complications
The type of sugar molecule like Sucralose does not occur in nature, and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes its claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, hence it has zero calories. But, if you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated from animal studies) you will see that in fact an average of 15 percent of sucralose IS absorbed into your digestive system and is also absorbed into your fat cells.
The above finding reported by Washington University School of Medicine about Splenda confirms some of the apprehensions which the community had. They are more of concern since they are based on human trials.
What is Stevia?
Stevia is a non-caloric herb and is extremely sweet. It is beneficial for both Diabetic and Weight watchers who wish to reduce sugar intake. This sweet plant is nutrient rich, containing substantial amounts of Protein, Calcium, Phosphorous, Sodium, Magnesium, Zinc, Rutin, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Selenium, Cobalt and Chromium and other nutrients, yet has no caloric value. These elements are powerful antioxidants and improve overall health. It has proven beneficial for many when used as a dietary supplement.
Stevia is the healthiest natural sugar substitute . Stevia leaves are 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar free from calorie and carbohydrates. It has now been grown commercially and widely used, instead of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, splenda and xylitol in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Central America, United States, Canada, Middle East, Europe, China and Thailand. It has been used as a healthy alternative to sugar for people seeking over all improved health by controlling blood sugar, preventing hypertension. Other studies show that it is a natural antiviral agent and antibacterial as well. Due to its almost zero calorie nature, it is extremely useful to obese persons who are attempting to lose body fat.
Since stevia has zero calories, zero carbohydrates and a zero glycemic index, it is perfect for individuals who cannot or would not like to have their blood glucose levels fluctuate at rapid levels.
In animal tests, the highest dose level administered to the animals represented some 100 times the estimated daily intake of this sweet material in the human diet.
Stevia Sweetener Vs Other Sweeteners
Per 2 Teaspoons of Sugar Stevia Sugar NutraSweet
(Aspartame) Splenda
(Sucralose) Sweet 'N Low
(Saccharin)
Natural vs. Artificial Natural Natural Artificial Artificial Artificial
Calories 0 32 0 0 0
Net Carbs 0 8g 1g 1g 1g
Gylcemic Index 0 70 0 0 0
In a glucose tolerance test (GTT) investigated in 16 normal volunteers, aqueous extracts of 5 grams of Stevia rebaudiana leaves were administered at regular 6-h intervals for 3 days. GTTs were performed before and after extract administration. The extract of Stevia rebaudiana increased glucose tolerance. The extract significantly decreased plasma glucose levels during the test and after overnight fasting in all volunteers.
In recent years, sugar substitutes like stevia and artificial sweeteners like Splenda have made national news headlines because of their benefits--and their risks. Unfortunately, getting too much sugar into your body simply isn't good for you. Therefore, a lot of companies have started trying to develop substitutes for sugars that they hope are healthier options. That said, just about every sugar substitute and artificial sweetener on the market right now has its advantages and disadvantages. While there probably hasn't been enough research done on either of stevia or Splenda, the two of the most popular types of sugar alternatives, it is difficult to make a definitive call; You can look at the facts surrounding each of them and make your own decision.
Stevia as a Sugar Substitute
Though its been used as a sweetener for centuries in countries like its native Brazil, stevia has only been used in the United States for a couple of years now after being approved by the FDA. Research on tests of stevia in rats showed that stevia could actually be a carcinogen; However, researchers recently have found that stevia may not cause the same results in humans. ( How valid is this argument, especially when the reverse argument is used to approve of a certain drug?) It also contains zero calories, so it can help you to lose weight when used properly. Stevia is naturally grown so there are no harmful additives present. The only thing that it really has going against it is that stevia is so new that there's not much known about what could happen if you use it regularly. Over time, there will probably be new developments and findings concerning stevia.
Splenda as a Sugar Substitute:
Originally introduced to the US back in the 1970s and 80s, Splenda was once one of the most popular artificial sweeteners in the country. Like stevia, it contains no calories, so you can cut calories from your diet simply by using Splenda. Splenda is also about 300 times sweeter than sugar, so you can get your foods and drinks sweeter without using much of it. However, over the last couple of decades, people have reported symptoms ranging from headaches to seizures as a result of using Splenda. Splenda also contains traces of chlorine that may, over time, impact your health. These are just some of the benefits and risks associated with Splenda.
The current state of your health really determines which product you should use. However, regardless of which you choose, remember that using sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners in moderation is the only way to prevent yourself from experiencing the risks associated with using each of them. In fact, moderation is the key for using sugar or any product that acts like sugar.
Here is an overview of various sugar substitutes:
Aspartame:
What is it: Amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine; and methanol. Brand names are Equal and NutraSweet.
How it's used: Equal tabletop sweetener, diet soft drinks, some sugar-free desserts.
Advantages: Tastes similar to sugar.
Drawbacks: Controversy continues about whether aspartame is linked to increased cancer rates. Government agencies say it is safe. A recent study from an Italian cancer institute found more lymphomas and leukemia in rats fed very large amounts of aspartame.
Saccharin:
What is it: Benzoic sulfinide.
How it's used: Tabletop sweetener, diet drinks, canned fruit.
Advantages: Less expensive than other artificial sweeteners. Stable at high temperatures, so can be used for baking.
Drawbacks: After studies in the early 1970s linked saccharin consumption to bladder cancer in rats, all food containing saccharin was required to carry a warning label. But studies in humans showed no consistent evidence that saccharin causes bladder cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. The warning label is no longer required.
Sucralose
What is it? A sugar molecule chemically altered by replacing three hydroxyl groups with three atoms of chlorine.
How it's used: Splenda tabletop sweetener and baking products. Also in yogurt, fruit juices, ice cream, dairy products, some diet beverages.
Advantages: Consumer groups have not raised the safety concerns with sucralose that they have with other sweeteners. Can be used in baked goods more readily than other artificial sweeteners.
Drawbacks: Although better suited for baking than other artificial sweeteners, it's still not a perfect substitute for sugar. Effect on blood sugar has been reported.
Stevia:
What is it: Extract from the stevia plant.
How it's used: Dietary supplement and tabletop sweetener.
Advantages: Less is more. Stevia is much sweeter than sugar, so less is needed. It is an option for people with diabetes as it does not affect blood sugar levels.
Drawbacks: Some extracts have a bitter taste. It is billed as "natural," but technically is processed.
A word of caution: Be careful with stevia. It can work TOO good sometimes and lower your blood sugar quite a bit. Also, be careful if you’re on medicines which cause low blood sugar such as sulfonylureas.
To quote Turner, “Now, I am definitely not a fan of sugar, but if I had to choose between sugar and any artificial sweetener, I would choose sugar, hands down, without question. I strongly believe artificial sweeteners are even more dangerous to your health than an excess of sugar.”
Be INFORMED... IT is the KEY to YOUR HEALTH...................
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