No calorie sugar substitutes provide options for enjoying a sweet life but did you know that they are actually unsafe? They are everywhere, from sodas to breakfast cereals. Artificial sweeteners claim to be better than normal sugar as they add sweetness without calories and all you need is only a tiny bit to achieve the equivalent taste.

But these are not as safe as you think they are. There are two types of sweeteners: sugar alcohols and no-calorie sweeteners. Sorbitol and mannitol are sugar alcohols which are used in chewing gum and hard candies. They provide about the same number of calories as table sugar. However, they are absorbed more slowly by the body. More than 50 grams of sorbitol can cause a gastric problem and even diarrhoea.

When used in moderation, foods containing artificial sweeteners can satisfy a craving for sweets while limiting the number of calories consumed. But you may still want to keep an eye on total calories, because sugar-free does not really mean calorie-free. So, if you're uncomfortable about using artificial sweeteners, and want to get by without them. Try the following:

Try drinking flavoured spring water instead of diet soda. You may be unaware of the presence of these sweeteners in products that you regularly use, so check the labels and packaging before consumption. One could even turn to herbal sugar substitutes like Stevia, which is available in all health stores.

These sweeteners are found strictly in packaged goods - be warned if you find saccharine, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and D-tagatose on the ingredients list. The fact is, even though too much sugar is bad, we all do need a bit of sweetness in life!

Source: Awaaz Plus