Artificial Sweeteners Vs. Sugar

Sugar has always been made to sound like the bad guy and the culprit behind weight gain. When you switch to artificial sweeteners, again you are made to read reports about how they have been linked to cancer and other such health problems.

What is a person to do? It is then a good idea to figure out what are the dangers and benefits of artificial sweeteners vs. sugar, and then make an informed choice. For those of you struggling between what to consume and what not to consume, here we present both sides of the coin.

Artificial sweeteners are made of chemical compounds that are almost 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. Saccharine, sucralose, and aspartame are examples of such sweeteners. There are however some natural sweeteners other than sugar such as Stevia, that are safe to be consumed by those who have sugar problems.

Those who are diabetics or are looking for weight control measures may benefit from the consumption of artificial sweeteners. This is because these do not have any calories in them. Also, the body is not able to digest these as they are synthetic, so there is no problem of insulin resistance and weight gain.

Consuming artificial sweeteners in a limited amount may actually be beneficial in terms of weight loss in the long run.

Another reason why artificial sweeteners are suggested is because they do not lead to the development of cavities and tooth decay as compared to sugar. In fact, xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar alcohol derived from fruits and vegetables is used in chewing gums for this very property.

The kind of sugar that we consume, i.e. refined white sugar (derived from sugar cane) only adds to the empty calories that we take in a day. It has no nutritional value, can spike up the blood glucose levels to a great extent, and will definitely result in weight gain when consumed in a large amount.

On the other hand, brown sugar, molasses, and even honey as a sweetener will provide you with some amount of vitamin in the body. Again, just because these are natural and safer substitutes, it does not mean that you may consume them in large amounts.

The reason why people may still prefer sugar over artificial sweeteners is the fact that it is a natural product at the end of the day. Further, with studies of the dangers and side effects of artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, people refuse to consume these in any form. As such, sugar is a preferred option over artificial sweeteners.

Another reason why health experts ask people to refrain from the consumption of artificial sweeteners (though most brands have been deemed safe for consumption by the FDA) is because they can in fact aid weight gain. How? As mentioned earlier, artificial sweeteners are devoid of calories which works absolutely fine when you are on a diet.

However, a lot of people take this fact for granted and start enjoying these so-called 'sugar-free' foods in larger amounts.

While the sweeteners themselves have no calories, there are calories in the other ingredients of the food. As such, you tend to put on more weight when under the belief that you are consuming something that will not lead to weight gain.

Yes, the calories you consume from 5 sugar-free cookies will be less than those you consume from 5 regular cookies. However, they are calories nonetheless and will only contribute to weight gain.

So are artificial sweeteners better than sugar or vice versa? Health experts have varying opinions on this. However, the common consensus lies on the fact that both should be consumed in limited amounts to avoid any kind of dangers associated with these.

If you are on a weight loss regime and choose to take artificial sweeteners for your tea or coffee or any other food or drink, remember to keep it limited. Don't assume that diet coke will add fewer calories to your system even if you consume 5-6 in a day. In fact, it may induce hunger and have you munch on all the wrong things.

Similarly, a tablespoon or two of refined sugar in a day is fine. Of course, an excess can lead to raised blood sugar levels and weight gain. Look for natural alternatives to sugar such as high quality organic maple syrup, raw honey, molasses, or agave nectar.

These are unrefined and therefore healthier than white sugar. Even stevia is safe as it does not add too many calories to the body. However, the other substitutes do, which is why you need to have them in limited amounts.

At the end of the day, it does not matter what you consume as long as you do it in moderation. Anything in excess hampers the ability of the body to judge its needs, and makes it go haywire, which is how we tend to develop those health problems we have always been warned about.

Understanding your body's needs, the impact of insulin resistance, and the effect of a particular product (be it sugar or an artificial sweetener) on your body, will help you gauge whether you should allow for the intake of either.

Disclaimer: This story is for informational purposes only and does not recommend the consumption of artificial sweeteners over sugar or vice versa. It is best to consult a health care professional to understand the effects of these on your body, and then decide whether or not you should consume them.