Artificial Sweetening Agents

Sugar is a product obtained from natural sources like sugarcane or sugar beet and is used as a natural sweetener for food items. Artificial sweetening agents are used as a substitute for sugar to add similar sweetness to the food. It is used intentionally to lower the calorific value of food. Sugar contributes to high calories through food intake which has some adverse effects on health, especially for those suffering from diabetes. These sweeteners are much sweeter than natural sugar and are used in very small amounts. These low-calorie sweeteners are widely used in the food sector for their health benefits in controlling obesity and diabetes. Artificial sweetening agents are recommended and promoted as an additive component for foods helping to reduce sugar and overall energy intake in the human body. 

Advantages of Artificial Sweetening Agents:

Artificial sweeteners are added to foods in moderate amounts to add the taste normally provided by sugar. It doesn’t contribute significantly to caloric or carbohydrate intake and helps consumers control various health problems. People have become more health-conscious today and try to avoid sugar which may cause obesity due to its high caloric value. The raw sugar intake may also cause tooth decay. Moreover, with the rapid increase in diseases like diabetes, patients are advised to avoid sugar. All these factors contribute to the popularity of artificial sweetening agents as food additives. It gives a sweet taste in food similar to that of sugar but doesn’t contain carbohydrates like sugar-based sweeteners. It is the best option for weight control and helps to maintain blood sugar levels as it contains significantly less caloric energy.

Safety Aspects of Sweeteners:

Artificial sweetening agents as an alternative to sugar periodically become the focus of interest due to their role in reducing risk factors and addressing common lifestyle diseases. A scientific debate exists among experts regarding how far these sweeteners provide benefits to the human body. These are substances directly consumed through food, so, an extensive study and evaluation of their effects on health have been carried out. These sweeteners undergo a comprehensive safety assessment by different health regulatory agencies across the world before being allowed to be used in the food. After review and confirmation of the safety aspects, the artificial sweeteners are given permission to be manufactured and sold for direct use by consumers.

Use of Artificial Sweeteners:

Artificial sweeteners are derived from plant extracts and processed by chemical synthesis. The sweetness factors of these sweeteners are much higher than regular sugar so they are also known as intense sweeteners. Sometimes, dextrose is added during the processing phase to control the sweetness of these products. It can be made suitable for use after mixing it with starch-based sweeteners. These are widely used in many types of processed foods including dairy products, candy, bakeries, jams, soft drinks, and beverages. Artificial sweeteners are intended to be used in food in a variety of ways, be it at home, in shops, or in the preparation of processed foods. Some of the most common artificial sweetening agents are saccharine, aspartame, neotame, alitame, and sucralose. These are all certified and recommended by competent authorities to be used as food additives without having any adverse effects.

Some of the Common Artificial Sweetening Agents:

• Saccharin:
  It is a popular sweetening agent that was introduced first. It has been used for domestic as well as the industrial purpose for many food items. Saccharin is the first sugar replacement product that contains no carbohydrates. It is much sweeter than sugar and needs to be used in a very small amount. It can’t be consumed directly because of its unpleasant taste but can be added to food items or drinks to provide the same taste as sugar. The original product has been modified over time by adding other low-calorie sweeteners like aspartame to change the taste. Saccharin is the most commonly used artificial sweetener in food because it is quite stable and has a shelf life of several years.
  
• Aspartame:
  It is one of the most common artificial sweeteners used in processed foods as a sugar substitute. It is derived from aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Aspartame can’t be used in cooking foods because it is unstable at a higher temperature. Therefore, it is used for cold foods and soft drinks.
  
• Alitame:
  It is an artificial sweetener with a high extent of sweetness, so it is necessary to control the sweetness to give the desired taste to the food to which it is added. It shows better stability than aspartame at cooking temperatures.
  
• Sucralose:
  It is a derivative of sucrose that is found in sugar. But it contains very minimal calories as compared to sugar. The advantage of this artificial sweetener is that its sweetness and taste are similar to sugar. It also remains stable at cooking temperature.

Conclusion:

The disadvantages associated with sugar intake have been studied and highlighted by medical experts worldwide. Consumption of too much sugar leads to many health issues like weight gain, poor nutrition, tooth decay, and increased levels of triglycerides. Diabetes is a very common disease nowadays affecting aged people as well as young groups which increases the blood sugar level in the body leading to various other complications. As a possible solution to these issues, artificial sweetening agents play an important role. With rapidly changing lifestyles and food habits, people gain calories that are not used up and are harmful to the body. The low caloric value of these sweetening agents provides energy just sufficient for our body and takes care of our well-being. Artificial sweeteners are widely used in cooking foods as well as in processed food items and drinks to provide people with a healthy solution without depriving them of enjoying the taste of food.