What is a sugar substitute? Is it harmful to health?

Sugar is a sweet additive that is so familiar in our daily foods. However, there are other substances that also have a similar sweet taste, which can be used instead of sugar called sugar substitutes. So what is a sugar substitute? Is this substance harmful to human health? The article below will answer for you.

What is a sugar substitute?

Sugar substitutes are also known as chemical sugars, artificial sugars, or zero-calorie sweeteners . These are chemical or natural, plant-based compounds that have a stronger sweetening ability than sugar. Using only a small amount of this substance can create the same sweetness as using a lot of sugar.

Sugar substitutes are chemical sugars, artificial sugars

However, this substance has fewer calories than regular sugar , even many have no calories. They are commonly used in processed foods and beverages. These sugar substitutes are regulated by the Food Safety Authority as food additives so they are safe to use.

Benefits of sugar substitutes

Sugar substitutes increase the sweetness and flavor of foods, avoiding the use of sugar that increases calories. These substances also do not cause tooth decay and most do not raise blood glucose levels. This will be better for patients with diabetes.

Sugar substitutes contain fewer calories than sugar

Sugar substitutes are also found in foods and soft drinks, so they are also useful if you are on a calorie-controlled diet.

However, you should not consume these foods too much , but instead, eat more fruits, vegetables, and other nutritional supplements. Meat, fish or cereals provide an excellent source of nutrients for the body.

Popular sugar substitutes

Commonly used sugar substitutes today include:

• Acesulfame K (acesulfame potassium)
• Aspartame (trade names are equal and nutrasweet )
• Stevia (trade name is purevia, truvia or sweetleaf sweetener ). This is a sugar substitute extracted from stevia leaves .

Stevia sugar and saccharin

• Sucralose (trade name is spenda )
• Saccharin , trade names are sweet ‘n low and sweet twin . Saccharin is a type of chemical sugar sold a lot in Vietnam.
• Sugar alcohols , including sorbitol, xylitol and maltitol.

Some frequently asked questions

Are sugar substitutes bad for your health?

Research from the US National Cancer Institute and others in the US says there’s still no evidence that sugar substitutes cause cancer. Researchers think that the chemical sugar is safe if used in moderation.

A safe sugar substitute for the body

The exception is people with phenylalanine disease (the disorder that converts Phenylalanin (Phe) to Tyrosine (Tyr) in humans, PKU) for short) who cannot consume aspartame sugar because the body cannot metabolize phenylalanine in this type of sugar. This.

How do I know if a food or drink contains a sugar substitute?

Before using , check the ingredients of the food or drink you are about to put in your body, to see if they contain any sugar substitutes. After each packaged and bottled food, there is always an ingredient list behind, arranging the substances in descending order of weight for easy identification.

See ingredient list on product for sugar substitutes

Which sugar substitute is safer for pregnant women?

The American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that aspartame is a safe sugar substitute for mother and baby. Other sugar substitutes, acesulfam K, a sugar alcohol derivative, and sucralose are also safe for pregnant women if used in small doses.

Doctors also recommend that pregnant women do not use saccharin and stevia, because there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that these two substances are safe for mothers during pregnancy.

Pregnant women can use aspartame sugar

How much sugar substitute should I eat?

Often, it is difficult to determine the amount of sugar substitutes in the foods and drinks that you put in your body. Although sugar substitutes do not have as many calories as regular sugar, it is still advisable and necessary to limit the consumption of foods in sugar substitutes.

Eat more healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits or lean meat, whole grains,… to give your body a variety of healthy and varied nutrients.

Replace sugar with fruit, fruit, …

Here is information about sugar substitutes for you. Hopefully the article has provided you with more useful information about this additive for safer and healthier food use.

Source: Vinmec.com, Tuoi Tre Online Newspaper

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