Have you ever gone into a coffee shop and opted for a sugar free drink or picked up a Splenda in the self service area? Have you ever wondered how these packets contain 0 calories but provide the utmost amount of sweetness to your taste buds? This blog will help clear a bit of that confusion.

What's the difference between regular and artificial sugar? 

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes which can also be from herbs or sugar. Artificial sugars usually differ from sugars in the sense that the level is sweetness is a lot stronger on our taste buds. The most common ingredient in artificial sweetener is sucralose or saccharin which can be placed in frozen foods, baked goods, gum, and diet drinks. 

What types of Sugar sweeteners are there?

There are several assortments of artificial sugar in the market currently.  The following are the most commonly seen 

Aspartame- Equal 

Stevia -sweetLeaf

Sucralose- Splenda 

Sugar Alcohols- Xylitol, maltitol (Protein bars)  

Saccharin - Sweet’N Low 

What are Some Positive Health Effects?  

Artificial sweeteners are not as detrimental for tooth decays and cavities as per regular table sugar. This is because artificial sugars do not contain actual sugar molecules and as a result cannot provide the bacteria with food to produce acid. However, artificial sugars may contain additional chemicals that can soften the enamel but it is not as damaging as regular sugar. 

Artificial Sugar can help with weight control and diabetes. As these sugars are not classified as carbohydrates and contain little to no calories. Therefore, they can try to satisfy sugar cravings for people who are looking to reduce caloric intake or prevent spikes in blood glucose levels. 

What are Some Negative Health Effects? 

There are several health concerns surrounding artificial sweeteners. For example some food products containing artificial sugar can have a laxative effect. This means it can cause bloating, gastrointestinal gas and diarrhea. In addition, sugar sweeteners can be addictive when taken in excess, and further influence poor dietary habits amongst people battling ongoing diabetes or obesity. 

In conclusion….

Take into consideration the composition and different types of artificial sugars found in the market, as well as the amount found in packaged food products. If you are looking for a low calorie sugar alternative, they can be a substitution, as long as your are consuming it in moderation and remain aware of the health concerns.

Personally, I find they taste yucky and have a lot of history with diet culture and the anti-sugar movements of my childhood. My preference is for mildly sweet foods over the excessively sweet artificial options. These are the kinds of things I factor in when creating meal plans and recipes. Have you tried my free meal plan yet? Find it here. Either way, you need to make the choice that is best for you and now you have a little more information in order to make an empowered decision. Do you plan to change your intake of artificial sugars?