Artificial sweeteners have always been mistaken with the natural sugar as researchers argue that they are extracted from the natural sugars.

Artificial sweeteners have always been mistaken with the natural sugar as researchers argue that they are extracted from the natural sugars. However, artificial sweeteners are manufactured in industries and have several synthetic additives incorporated during their production and processing. Artificial sugars can be manipulated as supplements for the natural sugars. However, its merits and demerits are still debated. It is argued that the artificial sweeteners add zero calories to the human body (Mursu et al., 2015).

 From the findings of Suez et al, (2014) research, it is noted that when patients are given fructose, they become obese unlike glucose which can be used as a supplement and the desired results are achieved. Unlike natural sugars extracted from sugarcanes, artificial sweeteners do not contribute to tooth decay, this is mainly because it does not provide a conducive environment to harbor bacterial growth (Chattopadhyay et al, 2014). Artificial sweeteners are also endowed with organic benefits. Doctors from the American Heart Association state that consumption of non-nutritive artificial sweeteners helps people suffering from the lifestyle diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Mursu et al (2015) observed that the effect of artificial sweeteners is that it restores stable health and lowers an individual’s weight. However, not all artificial sweeteners have been approved for consumption due to their side effects demonstrated in patients who consume them.

 FDA has therefore approved  Saccharin, aspartame, sucralose and a lower calorie sweetener called Stevia (Suez et al, 2014). Artificial sweeteners add taste similar to the taste in natural sugars. However, the only difference is that it does not contribute to increase in weight. Despite the various benefits stated for artificial sweeteners, Mursu et al (2015) explain that some of the lifestyle diseases such as cancers are linked to high consumption of the products. This is mainly due to the consumption of hyper-intense sweeteners which leads over-stimulation of body sugar receptors. High consumption of artificial sweeteners makes individual demand food with sweeter tastes but with lesser nutritional content.

 Foodstuff having more content of the natural sugars are rich in fiber and have lower levels of glycerol (Chattopadhyay et al, 2014). Current research on artificial sweeteners argues that foods with high levels of artificial sweeteners may probably contribute to the risks of developing diabetes, chronic illnesses, and cardiovascular diseases. Artificial sweeteners also make a person to crave for unhealthy stuff like cakes, soda, and candy which contributes to obesity. Artificial sweeteners are mainly chemicals that are human-made and always stick to the gastrointestinal tract when consumed. In case the sweetener is absorbed into the human body,  Mursu et al, (2015) stated that it is conveyed to the liver for detoxification and acted upon just like a foreign substance. 

Sweeteners are like foreign bodies added to the body, and therefore, some side effects include bloating, diarrhea and bloating since the content do not possess fibers which normally help in digestion. Consumption of soda rich in artificial sweeteners is noted to contribute to heart disease and lowered natural immunity. Soft drinks are mainly artificially sweetened. Thus, research shows that taking soda every day reduces the life span of a human being by approximately twenty years (Suez et al, 2014). It is, therefore, advisable that the artificial sweeteners should not be consumed as a favorite food or drink but just as a supplement in cases of individuals with lower sugar levels in the body.

 Nonetheless, natural sugars are the most preferable to maintain sugar levels in the body since with more consumption of artificial sweeteners patients tend to consume more non-nutritional foods that add weight. This in return adds to the problems associated with high blood pressure and obesity. Digestion also becomes a  challenge which worsens patients’ conditions (Chattopadhyay et al, 2014). The information concerning consumption of foods and drinks rich in artificial sweeteners should be shared among patients and any other un-informed individual due to detrimental health effects linked to the sweeteners.

 References

Chattopadhyay, S., Raychaudhuri, U., & Chakraborty, R. (2014). Artificial sweeteners–a review. Journal of food science and technology, 51(4), 611-621.

Imamura, F., O’Connor, L., Ye, Z., Mursu, J., Hayashino, Y., Bhupathiraju, S. N., & Forouhi, N. G. (2015). Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and fruit juice and incidence of type 2 diabetes: systematic review, meta-analysis, and estimation of population attributable fraction. Bmj, 351, h3576.

Suez, J., Korem, T., Zeevi, D., Zilberman-Schapira, G., Thaiss, C. A., Maza, O., … & Kuperman, Y. (2014). Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. Nature, 514(7521), 181.