For many people, sugar in coffee or baked goods isn’t an option. This can be due to weight watching or for health related matters. Fortunately, there are a variety of sugar substitutes on the market for one to choose from. Knowing about the different types of sugar substitutes can help you to choose the best product for your lifestyle.
Acesulfame-K — Also know as “Ace-K,” this sugar substitute is actually two hundred times sweeter than sugar! This sweetener should be used in moderation. Ace-K is fine for baking, just use it sparingly.
Saccharine — The main ingredient in the popular pink-packets of “Sweet N Low,” saccharine is one of the more well-known sugar substitutes. Saccharine was popular years ago but fell out of favor when it was concluded laboratory rats developed cancer after using the artificial sweeteners. While rats may have experienced unfortunate side effects, this has not been proven to be the case with humans. It’s not recommended for pregnant or lactating women, however. Saccharine can be used to sweeten drinks of all temperatures and can be used in place of sugar in recipes.
Sucralose — Sucralose is what is contained in a yellow packet of “Splenda.” Splenda is gaining in popularity not only because it’s made of sugar, thereby tasting just like sugar, but because it measures the same as sugar, which makes it more convenient for baking than other sugar substitutes. Sucralose is six hundred times sweeter than sugar, however, so if one is not using the Splenda brand, one will have to do some math to figure out how much to add to your baking.
Aspartame — You might recognize aspartame as the product contained in the blue packet with “Nutra Sweet” printed on the front. Once saccharine began to lose its luster, aspartame gained popularity. While aspartame might be popular in diet soft drinks, coffee and tea, it’s not recommended for baking as it can lose its flavor after being exposed to heat for certain period of time. Adding it to foods once they stop cooking, however, is fine.
Cyclamate — This is the sugar substitute used by Weight Watchers. It’s great for cooking and baking. It’s sweeter than sugar, about ten times sweeter, so keep this in mind when opening a package of “Sugar Twin.”
Most of the above sugar substitutes food additives have been approved by the FDA as safe for use by diabetics. Those who are diabetic, pregnant or nursing would probably find it in their best interests to check with their physicians before using any of these products regularly.
Showing posts with label Acesulfame K. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acesulfame K. Show all posts
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The Dangers Of Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K is one of the several artificial sweeteners which form a basic ingredient of products such as yogurt, soft drinks, gums, etc. It is a product of Acetoacetic acid. It is known to be 180 – 200 times sweeter than table sugar, and adds sweetness to foods without adding calories or fat. It came into use as sugar substitute in the United States.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the use of Acesulfame-K (Acesulfame Potassium) as a sweetener in specific foods in the year 1988, and for general purpose in the year 2002. However, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) thinks otherwise when it comes to the safety of the product. According to them, this substance has not undergone thorough studies regarding its different properties, which may pose potential threats to health. These speculations, are however, based on animal testing, as testing on humans has limited scope.
Why is Acesulfame-K Not Dangerous?
A. According to the National Cancer Institute, the reason behind FDI’s approval for the use of Acesulfame-K as a general sweetener is its review of more than 100 safety studies that were conducted on the sweetener. These studies were aimed to find any kind of evidence of threat to human health. To add to this, these studies included also those which analyzed risk of cancer. And all studies came out with zero evidence which could question the safety of Acesulfame-K.
B. Other medical experts are also with the view that Acesulfame K and other artificial sweeteners that are listed in the FDA approved products, are generally do not pose any threat to health. But they also stressed on the importance of the moderate consumption of the product. According to the FDA, 15 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight is the set limit for consuming Acesulfame K on daily basis.
C. Also, a safety test was conducted by the National Toxicology Program. About 60 rats were a part of this test, wherein, they were fed with the sweetener for about 9 months. They ensured that the amount of Acesulfame-K that was fed make up 3% of the animals’ diet. Results showed no incidences of increased risk of cancer or growth of abnormal mass of tissues in the tested animals.
Why it Can Be Otherwise?
A. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Acesulfame-K may possess carcinogenic properties. Two tested rats showed that there could be chances for the additive to cause cancer. The CSPI also points out to the mediocre standards of the tests that were conducted on the sweetener regarding its safety in the year 1970. In some other studies on rats, the sweetener showed to trigger problems such as dose-dependent insulin secretion. However, there were no evidences which could indicate hypoglycemia.
B. Reasons behind CSPI regarding the safety tests to be of mediocre standard were:
a. CSPI claims that the test period was insufficient as it was conducted for 80 weeks, instead of 104 weeks which is an agreed standard of the National Toxicology Program.
b. The system in charge of monitoring the tested animals was not satisfactory.
c. The rats and mice that were part of the safety test did not undergo any subchronic tests, which could have given more insight on the program.
d. According to CSPI, the randomization in test groups was not carried out as it was supposed to.
e. CSPI also doubted if the minimum toxic dose/maximum tolerated dose was even achieved in the tests conducted on the animals.
Although FDA and other authorities have dismissed claims that doubt the safety of the general use of Acesulfame-K, further research in terms of food safety has been recommended by critics such as the CSPI. But as a general rule of thumb, people are advised to use the food additives in small to moderate amounts, just to be on the safer side.
And before I close this article on Acesulfame-K dangers, here are some properties you may like to know about this substance. As already mentioned, it is 200 times sweeter than sugar. What you may not be aware about is that it is as sweet as aspartame, and is one-fourth as sweet as sucralose, a common sweetener in soft drinks. Again, it is half as sweet as saccharin and has a similar aftertaste at high concentrations. Unlike other artificial sweeteners, this one has the ability to remain stable under heat, and under moderate exposure to acidic or basic conditions. This property makes the Acesulfame-K more suitable to be used in products requiring longer shelf life. Pharmaceutical products like chewable and liquid drugs have this sweetener as one of the important ingredients to make them more palatable.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the use of Acesulfame-K (Acesulfame Potassium) as a sweetener in specific foods in the year 1988, and for general purpose in the year 2002. However, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) thinks otherwise when it comes to the safety of the product. According to them, this substance has not undergone thorough studies regarding its different properties, which may pose potential threats to health. These speculations, are however, based on animal testing, as testing on humans has limited scope.
Why is Acesulfame-K Not Dangerous?
A. According to the National Cancer Institute, the reason behind FDI’s approval for the use of Acesulfame-K as a general sweetener is its review of more than 100 safety studies that were conducted on the sweetener. These studies were aimed to find any kind of evidence of threat to human health. To add to this, these studies included also those which analyzed risk of cancer. And all studies came out with zero evidence which could question the safety of Acesulfame-K.
B. Other medical experts are also with the view that Acesulfame K and other artificial sweeteners that are listed in the FDA approved products, are generally do not pose any threat to health. But they also stressed on the importance of the moderate consumption of the product. According to the FDA, 15 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight is the set limit for consuming Acesulfame K on daily basis.
C. Also, a safety test was conducted by the National Toxicology Program. About 60 rats were a part of this test, wherein, they were fed with the sweetener for about 9 months. They ensured that the amount of Acesulfame-K that was fed make up 3% of the animals’ diet. Results showed no incidences of increased risk of cancer or growth of abnormal mass of tissues in the tested animals.
Why it Can Be Otherwise?
A. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Acesulfame-K may possess carcinogenic properties. Two tested rats showed that there could be chances for the additive to cause cancer. The CSPI also points out to the mediocre standards of the tests that were conducted on the sweetener regarding its safety in the year 1970. In some other studies on rats, the sweetener showed to trigger problems such as dose-dependent insulin secretion. However, there were no evidences which could indicate hypoglycemia.
B. Reasons behind CSPI regarding the safety tests to be of mediocre standard were:
a. CSPI claims that the test period was insufficient as it was conducted for 80 weeks, instead of 104 weeks which is an agreed standard of the National Toxicology Program.
b. The system in charge of monitoring the tested animals was not satisfactory.
c. The rats and mice that were part of the safety test did not undergo any subchronic tests, which could have given more insight on the program.
d. According to CSPI, the randomization in test groups was not carried out as it was supposed to.
e. CSPI also doubted if the minimum toxic dose/maximum tolerated dose was even achieved in the tests conducted on the animals.
Although FDA and other authorities have dismissed claims that doubt the safety of the general use of Acesulfame-K, further research in terms of food safety has been recommended by critics such as the CSPI. But as a general rule of thumb, people are advised to use the food additives in small to moderate amounts, just to be on the safer side.
And before I close this article on Acesulfame-K dangers, here are some properties you may like to know about this substance. As already mentioned, it is 200 times sweeter than sugar. What you may not be aware about is that it is as sweet as aspartame, and is one-fourth as sweet as sucralose, a common sweetener in soft drinks. Again, it is half as sweet as saccharin and has a similar aftertaste at high concentrations. Unlike other artificial sweeteners, this one has the ability to remain stable under heat, and under moderate exposure to acidic or basic conditions. This property makes the Acesulfame-K more suitable to be used in products requiring longer shelf life. Pharmaceutical products like chewable and liquid drugs have this sweetener as one of the important ingredients to make them more palatable.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Side Effects of Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K, popularly known as Acesulfame K or Ace K is an artificial sweetener which was first discovered by Karl Clauss in 1967. It is a sugar substitute, about 180-200 times sweeter than the normal sugar that we consume. In high concentrations, an underlying bitter test can be felt. With a melting point of 437 degrees Fahrenheit, it is quite stable, unlike the other sugar substitutes like aspartame. It is also used in baking purposes and carbonated drinks. But artificial sweeteners come with their shortcomings. Here, we will be discussing some of the Acesulfame-K side effects.
Side Effects of Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K contains acetoacetic acid, which is responsible for the extreme sweetness level, sans the calories and fats. Health conscious people may think, it is a good news, but on the contrary, such processed sweeteners can hamper the metabolism of the body. This is because a human body cannot metabolize these calorie free drinks.
Any natural product, when processed has positive as well as negative effects, of which if the side effects are overshadowing the benefits, one needs to raise concerns. So here are some Acesulfame-K dangers, listed below:
A research done long back on this particular sweetener’s effects on female rats had ambiguous results, with a claim that the rats which were tested with this sweetener had higher chances of developing breast tumors. This research was carried out by Center for Science in the Public Interest, and the inconclusive results are still disputable today, on whether this sweetener is any good for health, despite the fact that FDA has approved of it as a general purpose sweetener.
During the manufacture of Acesulfame-K, methylene chloride is used as a solvent, which otherwise is used in other commercial applications like paint stripper, degreaser and propellant gas. Its use in the food industry is contentious, and exposure to this chemical compound over a prolonged period of time can result in headaches, liver complications, mental confusion, cancerous developments, visual impairment and renal diseases. In some medical conditions, it has been observed that people tend to suffer from allergic reactions, nausea induced vomiting, depression, intense headaches, and liver diseases too.
For diabetic people, the normal sugar is a NO-NO. So people tend to use this sweetener as a taste enhancer. Although food additives acesulfame K stimulates insulin secretion, in extreme cases, it can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which is even more dangerous. This can happen when the body ends up secreting more insulin, and the craving for sweet food increases, causing the person to lose appetite for a healthy diet. This is one of the major ill effects of Acesulfame-K.
Despite the above stated Acesulfame-K side effects, this sweetener is quite popular because of the calorie-less sweetness that it has to offer. It is as sweet as aspartame and is ?th sweet as sucralose, which is a common ingredient in most of the soft drinks. Also it is quite popular as sweeteners for diabetics. Since it remains stable under heat and exposure to acidic and basic conditions, its utility as a food additive is indisputable. Even many liquid drugs used for medications, contain appropriate amounts of acesulfame K to palliate the bitter taste of medicines.
So these were some of the unwanted effects Acesulfame-K on the body. Although it has a green signal from the FDA, to be used as a general purpose sweetener, one must take care, when going for the brands. However, there haven’t been many cases of side effects and also it is quite safe to be consumed by pregnant women. One can use it in appropriate amounts and at the same time should not compromise on a healthy diet. So the bottom line is in spite of its side effects, it can be consumed. However, it is always better to avoid over-consumption, to ward off risks associated with this non-nutritive sweetener.
Side Effects of Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K contains acetoacetic acid, which is responsible for the extreme sweetness level, sans the calories and fats. Health conscious people may think, it is a good news, but on the contrary, such processed sweeteners can hamper the metabolism of the body. This is because a human body cannot metabolize these calorie free drinks.
Any natural product, when processed has positive as well as negative effects, of which if the side effects are overshadowing the benefits, one needs to raise concerns. So here are some Acesulfame-K dangers, listed below:
A research done long back on this particular sweetener’s effects on female rats had ambiguous results, with a claim that the rats which were tested with this sweetener had higher chances of developing breast tumors. This research was carried out by Center for Science in the Public Interest, and the inconclusive results are still disputable today, on whether this sweetener is any good for health, despite the fact that FDA has approved of it as a general purpose sweetener.
During the manufacture of Acesulfame-K, methylene chloride is used as a solvent, which otherwise is used in other commercial applications like paint stripper, degreaser and propellant gas. Its use in the food industry is contentious, and exposure to this chemical compound over a prolonged period of time can result in headaches, liver complications, mental confusion, cancerous developments, visual impairment and renal diseases. In some medical conditions, it has been observed that people tend to suffer from allergic reactions, nausea induced vomiting, depression, intense headaches, and liver diseases too.
For diabetic people, the normal sugar is a NO-NO. So people tend to use this sweetener as a taste enhancer. Although food additives acesulfame K stimulates insulin secretion, in extreme cases, it can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which is even more dangerous. This can happen when the body ends up secreting more insulin, and the craving for sweet food increases, causing the person to lose appetite for a healthy diet. This is one of the major ill effects of Acesulfame-K.
Despite the above stated Acesulfame-K side effects, this sweetener is quite popular because of the calorie-less sweetness that it has to offer. It is as sweet as aspartame and is ?th sweet as sucralose, which is a common ingredient in most of the soft drinks. Also it is quite popular as sweeteners for diabetics. Since it remains stable under heat and exposure to acidic and basic conditions, its utility as a food additive is indisputable. Even many liquid drugs used for medications, contain appropriate amounts of acesulfame K to palliate the bitter taste of medicines.
So these were some of the unwanted effects Acesulfame-K on the body. Although it has a green signal from the FDA, to be used as a general purpose sweetener, one must take care, when going for the brands. However, there haven’t been many cases of side effects and also it is quite safe to be consumed by pregnant women. One can use it in appropriate amounts and at the same time should not compromise on a healthy diet. So the bottom line is in spite of its side effects, it can be consumed. However, it is always better to avoid over-consumption, to ward off risks associated with this non-nutritive sweetener.
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