The Bitter Truth

IF you are touchy about your waistline, or a health freak or even a diabetic trying to control your blood sugar, chances are you reach for t...

IF you are touchy about your waistline, or a health freak or even a diabetic trying to control your blood sugar, chances are you reach for the artificial sweetener almost as naturally as others opt for the demerara. But here8217;s something else to chew on8230;

First, what are sweeteners?
Sweeteners are better known by their brand names, but all of them are basically chemicals like Saccharine, Aspartame and Cyclophamades. All are associated with side-effects like headaches and nausea, while some may lead to memory loss and brain damage. Saccharine has revealed carcinogenic properties when introduced in rats.

Why do some people prefer sweeteners to sugar?
According to diet experts, sugar is 8216;8216;empty8217;8217; food, since a heaped teaspoon provides 20 calories and nothing else. A potent source of energy for children, 40-plus people are advised to give it up as after this age, the blood8217;s ability to absorb sugar falls, and the sugar accumulates in the body. As energy or carbohydrate alternatives, experts suggest wheat, rice, potatoes and bananas.

How do sweeteners work?
Commercial artificial sweeteners use non-caloric sweeteners, which do not add calories to the food. 8216;8216;Non-caloric sweeteners are much sweeter than sugar, and hence need to be consumed in very small quantities,8217;8217; says Dr Shikha Sharma, New Delhi-based weight management consultant. 8216;8216;Saccharine is 300 times sweeter than sugar, while Aspartame is 200 times more sweet.8217;8217;

That sounds good. So, what8217;s the problem?
Sweeteners are triggering major concerns because of their side-effects. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration recently removed Saccharine from the safe food list after it was found to have led to urinary tract cancer in rodents. Aspartame is considered the most dangerous substance in the food market, and accounts for 75 per cent of adverse food reactions reported to the FDA.

The problems, explains Dr Sharma, arise because the molecules of artificial sweeteners are very small, and pass the blood/brain barrier to accumulate in the brain.

Okay, what are the specific dangers of sweeteners?
The very composition of Aspartame is dangerous, say experts. Long time exposure to aspartic acid 8212; a principal component of Aspartame 8212; is associated with memory and hearing loss, hormonal problems, brain lesions, neuroendocrine disorders and can even give rise to birth defects. Cruelly enough, the American Diabetic Association says Aspartame precipitates clinical diabetes and aggravates diabetic complications like retinopathy and cataract. Cyclophamades causes rashes and intestinal disorders.

Story continues below this ad

What are the general side-effects?
Shashi Mathur, chief dietician at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, lists the immediate effects of sweeteners: migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, weight gain, rashes, depression, palpitation, insomnia, vision problem, anxiety attacks, and vertigo.

Does it get worse?
It does. Experts say artificial sweeteners serve to aggravate the sweet tooth. Research by the American Cancer Society indicates that regular users of artificial sweeteners tend to gain weight, apparently because artificial sweeteners slow down digestion and whet the appetite.

So how does one curb sugar intake?
While some experts advise a complete elimination of sugar and sweeteners from the diet, others say two teaspoons daily is ok for a normal person. Mithais, though, are a complete no-no and can be substituted by fruit.