According to a recent survey, cases of diabetes and obesity continue to grow in numbers. Because of this, there are lots of efforts being exerted to raise awareness on the use of added sugars in food. A recommendation from the most recent addition of the US dietary guidelines for Americans states that added sugars should be kept to less than 10% Of the total calories consumed. This sums up to roughly 270 cal per day.
The rising numbers of diabetes and obesity cases could be credited to "added sugars" which actually only add sweetness or flavor but only very little nutritional value. This has prompted the food industry to embark on a quest to find or develop the perfect substitute for sugar. According to experts, the parameters for the perfect sugar substitute is that it should have the same taste but none of the calories that lead to weight gain.
Noticeably, there are now more brands for sugar substitute products that have various health claims. However, the rise in numbers of various sugar substitutes could be confusing for those with diabetes or prediabetes who should be conscious of their blood sugar. Still, according to a pharmacist who has been certified for advanced diabetes management, there is still no perfect sugar substitute.
There are two main groups for sugar substitutes, namely sugar alcohols and high-intensity sweeteners. Sugar alcohols contain fewer calories as compared to regular sugar, however, it will still increase the patient's blood sugar. Still, when compared to sugar the effect of sugar alcohols is less dramatic. In contrast, high-intensity sweeteners have zero or a very low-calorie count. It can be 100 to 20,000 times as sweet as sugar. however, high-intensity sweeteners can leave a bitter or metallic aftertaste.
While all sugar substitutes that are out in the market should be labeled as a food additive and should be approved under the regulation of the US food and drug administration, a new trend in labeling this sugar substitute has been noticed. Most of today's sugar substitutes are packaged and labeled as "derived from plants" and some are labeled as "natural". However, this label does not necessarily mean that these products are safer or more effective in controlling blood sugar or in promoting weight loss. It still goes without saying that excessive use could have adverse side effects such as bloating or even diarrhea.
Some experts have raised a concern about high-intensity sweeteners, including aspartame, and saccharine, as some studies have linked this said products to cancer. That being said, there has been no clear evidence supporting this theory.
