In nature, sweetness is a basic taste only found in ripe fruits, some vegetables such as carrots, beetroots, grasses such as sugar cane or honey. This taste is perceived by sweetness receptors found mainly in taste buds on the tongue, but also present in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the nasal epithelium, pancreatic islet cells and in the hypothalamus.
The sweetness perception varies significantly from species to species, and as it turns out, we humans typically enjoy quite much the sweet taste on some of our foods and drinks. However, natural sources of sweetness in the form of mono and disaccharides can be broken down and metabolized by our bodies, providing energy in the form calories, spiking our insulin response and possibly causing problems such as obesity and diabetes when consumed excessively.
As an alternative to natural sweeteners, the first artificial sweeteners were developed in the 19th century, probably around 1879. These compounds usually are a modified version of a natural sweetener that are able to sensitize our sweetness receptors in a more impactful way while not being completely metabolized and absorbed by our bodies, passing through our digestive system without adding any calories to our diets. The same effect of sugar minus the calories. Sounds great, right?
Today, we see a flood of artificial sweeteners on the market, especially with fitness supplements, where it’s pretty much the only way to make a protein or pre-workout drink taste good without adding a ton of carbs to it. You probably wouldn’t want to drink whey or BCAAs if you had to the taste their original flavor, trust me.
The majority of artificial sweeteners got a bad reputation on the media, but really how bad are they for your health? What are their pros and cons? Are they all the same or is there any difference?
First of all, let’s go over the list of the approved artificial sweeteners by the american FDA. These are generally safe-to-use and have not been linked to any health issues in studies made with humans.
The pros these substances provide are quite obvious given their primary function:
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The sweetness perception varies significantly from species to species, and as it turns out, we humans typically enjoy quite much the sweet taste on some of our foods and drinks. However, natural sources of sweetness in the form of mono and disaccharides can be broken down and metabolized by our bodies, providing energy in the form calories, spiking our insulin response and possibly causing problems such as obesity and diabetes when consumed excessively.
As an alternative to natural sweeteners, the first artificial sweeteners were developed in the 19th century, probably around 1879. These compounds usually are a modified version of a natural sweetener that are able to sensitize our sweetness receptors in a more impactful way while not being completely metabolized and absorbed by our bodies, passing through our digestive system without adding any calories to our diets. The same effect of sugar minus the calories. Sounds great, right?
Today, we see a flood of artificial sweeteners on the market, especially with fitness supplements, where it’s pretty much the only way to make a protein or pre-workout drink taste good without adding a ton of carbs to it. You probably wouldn’t want to drink whey or BCAAs if you had to the taste their original flavor, trust me.
The majority of artificial sweeteners got a bad reputation on the media, but really how bad are they for your health? What are their pros and cons? Are they all the same or is there any difference?
First of all, let’s go over the list of the approved artificial sweeteners by the american FDA. These are generally safe-to-use and have not been linked to any health issues in studies made with humans.
- Acesulfame Potassium (Acesulfame K) ;
- Aspartame ;
- Saccharin ;
- Sucralose ;
- Neotame ;
- Advantame .
The pros these substances provide are quite obvious given their primary function:
- A replacement for sugar cravings;
- Reducing total amount of calories ingested;
- Satisfying the need for a sweet taste, especially in beverages;
- Easier to consume supplements that would taste bad without flavoring;
- Effective as a strategy to manage bodyweight and glucose levels;
- Better dental health.
- Chance of headaches or migraine or mood swings if individual is susceptible;
- Chemical additives, so they provide no nutritive value;
- In healthy individuals may lower blood glucose levels to below normal, which affects performance and cognitive function;
- Saccharin, sucralose and stevia have been show to change the composition of the gut microbiota, which may translate into gastrointestinal disorders;
- Blood pressure alteration in individuals with hypertension;
- Possible link to increased cardiovascular risk;
- Some people can’t stand the taste it gives to some foods and drinks;
- Still controversial, with some researchers claiming it still needs more studies to reach a conclusion.
For more articles like this, please visit our blog:
Steroidify.blog
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