People love eating sweet treats, from candies to baked goods and soda. Even artificial sweeteners have exploded in popularity, even if they are not always recommendable. So, experts are always searching for a better sweetener that tastes sweet and is healthy to consume.
In a paper, researchers reported a new low-calorie mixture that is as sweet as table sugar and good for the gut microbe.
Low-Calorie Sweetener Can Replace Sugar
Although artificial sweeteners are considered safe for human consumption, human and animal studies show that some of them can stimulate appetite that increase food consumption and weight gain.
According to Science Daily, researchers have been studying low-calorie substances and natural sources as replacements. One of these compounds is the galactooligosaccharides found in a mammal's milk which is a low-calorie sugar with a prebiotic activity that is good for gut microbes. However, they are so sweet that they can be used to replace table sugars.
Another is a compound called mogrosides from the Luo Han Guo fruit or monk fruit is 200 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar. It has some off taste that can be removed with enzymes.
Researcher F. Javier Moreno and his colleagues thought of using both advantages of the two compounds to develop a brand new low-calorie sweetener that can replace table sugar and is suitable for the gut. They added β-galactosidase enzymes to mogroside V, the primary mogroside in the fruit, to create the new sweetener.
The panel composed of trained sensory experts said the combination offers a new sweetener that could be acceptable to consumers. More so, lab experiments show that it has increased beneficial human gut microbes. Some of these bacteria include the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacterial species.
New Low-Calorie Sweetener is As Sweet As Table Sugar and Good For Gut Microbes
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Understanding Natural and Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial and alternative sweeteners are used as substitutes for regular table sugar and sometimes, the terminology can be confusing. Some manufacturers label their sweeteners "natural" even though they were processed, while some artificial sweeteners are derived from natural substances.
According to Mayo Clinic, natural sweeteners are sugar substitutes marketed as a healthier option than table sugar. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes fruit juices and nectars, honey, molasses, and maple syrup as safe, natural sweeteners.
Meanwhile, artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes that may be derived from herbs or sugar itself. But they can also be many times sweeter than sugar, although they do not necessarily add calories. Artificial sweeteners are used in soft drinks, powdered drink mixes, baked goods, candy, canned foods, jams and jellies, and dairy products.
Ultimately, it pays to be a savvy consumer to choose sugar substitutes. Whether it is an artificial or natural sweetener, experts say that it should be used only in moderation.
The results are detailed in the study titled "Prebiotic Potential of a New Sweetener Based on Galactooligosaccharides and Modified Mogrosides," published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
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