Sweeteners and sweeteners have their zealous supporters and opponents, who sometimes go to extremes, distorting reality.. Let's try to figure out how sugar substitutes affect the body, what is their harm, what is the benefit, and is it possible to find a compromise?

It is human nature to seek pleasure and enjoyment.. This desire often becomes the engine of progress, but sometimes leads to disastrous results.. After all, it has long been known that everything pleasant is harmful. Well, almost all.

In order not to deny ourselves the pleasures, we try to " sugar, according to the online edition for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old Pannochka. net If initially sweeteners and sweeteners had a narrow range of applications, slightly improving the “taste of life” for diabetics, now their use has increased markedly. More than 6,000 food products are made without added sugar, many medicines contain sweeteners. Each losing weight can easily find a jar of fructose or sorbitol on the supermarket shelf, and go to the pharmacy to buy "

Sweeteners and sweeteners have their zealous supporters and opponents, who sometimes go to extremes, distorting reality.. Let's try to figure out how sugar substitutes affect the body, what is their harm, what is the benefit, and is it possible to find a compromise?

Sweet tooth: what threatens them?

Craving for sweets in humans is not just a bad habit, it is a natural need.. Sugar "

On the other hand, getting used to an excess of sweets from childhood, a person can turn into a real sugar maniac.. Sugar begins to be consumed in incredible quantities, significantly exceeding the recommended rate of 100 g per day.. In this case, sugar becomes " Scientists have calculated, for example, that an extra 1 hour. a spoonful of sugar per day leads to an increase in body weight by 3-4 kg per year. And we are well aware of the consequences of being overweight..

The sugar we add to tea is sucrose. Under the influence of saliva enzymes in the oral cavity and pancreas in the intestine, sucrose rapidly breaks down into its components: 50% glucose and 50% fructose.. After that, glucose and fructose are absorbed into the blood through the intestinal wall.. Glucose is absorbed faster than fructose, its absorption requires the hormone insulin, without which it cannot enter the cell and accumulates in the blood, causing toxic effects..

It is believed that the abuse of sweets may be one of the causes of diabetes.. In this case, the number of sweets has to be limited according to vital indications..

Fructose Natural sugar substitute. Found in fruits and vegetables, honey and other foods. Widely used in confectionery and baking industry.

Previously, scientists believed that fructose is an excellent substitute for sugar for diabetics and those who want to lose weight.. It is absorbed more slowly in the intestines than glucose, does not cause blood sugar spikes, and does not require insulin to be absorbed.. Fructose has the same calorie content as sugar, but is approximately 1.7-1.9 times sweeter.. Thus, instead of two tablespoons of sugar, one can be added to tea, which will justify itself for overweight people..

However, it is now known that even in the mouth a significant part of fructose (about a quarter) is converted into ordinary glucose.. In addition, the biochemistry of fructose is such that in people with diabetes, this monosaccharide provokes an increased synthesis of harmful metabolic products, which can aggravate the course of diabetes..

Thus, it is not recommended to replace sugar with fructose in people with type 2 diabetes, especially in a state of decompensation.. In insulin-demanding diabetes, fructose must be taken into account when calculating bread units.. And for those who want to lose weight, you should take into account the calorie content of fructose and follow the recommended norms: no more than 50 g per day.

Sorbitol and xylitol Sweet alcohols found in natural foods, often used in the production of carbonated drinks, chewing gum, ice cream and other things, have found their use in medicine as choleretic and laxatives. In the process of metabolism, they are synthesized in the human body.

Sorbitol is almost half as sweet as glucose, and has a slightly lower calorie content.. In the process of metabolism, it turns into fructose, therefore, in patients with diabetes, it requires significantly less insulin consumption during absorption than sugar.. Sorbitol reduces the body's need for B vitamins, has a positive effect on the liver, normalizes the intestinal microflora, and has a decongestant effect.. Reduces ketoacidosis in diabetic patients.

On the other hand, consuming sorbitol can lead to weight gain, since a serving of sorbitol has a higher calorie content compared to an equivalent amount of sugar in terms of sweetness.. Sorbitol has a metallic taste. Sorbitol stays in the intestine for a long time, increasing osmotic pressure. Excess water enters through the intestinal wall, increasing the volume of the contents of the intestine, which can lead to bloating and diarrhea. Therefore, it is recommended to start the use of sorbitol with small doses of 10-15 g per day, if necessary, increasing the daily dose to 30 g.. Sorbitol is contraindicated in inflammatory bowel disease and gallstone disease.

In patients with moderate and severe diabetes mellitus, sorbitol can cause the formation of toxic metabolites, increase the likelihood of complications, the degree of hyperglycemia (increased blood glucose levels).

Xylitol is practically indistinguishable from sugar in sweetness and taste, has a similar calorie content. It is slowly absorbed from the intestine, as well as sorbitol in large doses causes diarrhea and has a similar diuretic and choleretic effect.. Slows down the evacuation of food from the stomach, which reduces appetite and leads to a decrease in portion size.

Xylitol, like sorbitol, is a natural metabolite of the human body, is completely absorbed. At the same time, 10% more energy is released than when glucose is absorbed.. There is evidence that xylitol stimulates the production of insulin, reduces the amount of " In an experiment, xylitol was 9 times less likely to develop cavities compared to sugar.

There is also a " Xylitol in the process of processing turns into xylose, and in animal experiments it caused the development of cataracts. No studies have yet been conducted to either confirm or disprove this effect in humans..

Xylitol is contraindicated in colitis, its use is limited in people with gallstone disease. In the elderly and people with vegetative-vascular dystonia, it can increase blood pressure and the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is recommended not to exceed the daily dose of 30 g and not to take xylitol constantly..

Stevia honey A plant from the Compositae family. 1 kg of dry stevia leaves can replace 30 kg of sugar for sweetness. Numerous studies have confirmed the safety of stevia and sweeteners based on it.. Especially widespread use of stevia found in Japan.

Stevia tastes different from sugar, but most people find it tastes good.. Experiments have shown the ability of stevia to increase insulin production in type 2 diabetes, but this property has not yet been fully studied..

It is known that stevia has a good effect on the heart and blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, has a diuretic and wound healing effect.. Tea with stevia is a good prevention of colds, and the vitamins and minerals included in its composition strengthen the immune system. Over 1,000 tons of stevia extract are consumed annually in Japan without a single report of toxicity..

In addition to natural sugar substitutes, there are also synthetic ones..

•They are many times sweeter than sugar.

•Their taste is highly dependent on the dose,.

therefore, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommended norms.

• Synthetic sweeteners do not affect the production of insulin, are not preservatives (unlike fructose and sucrose).

• Their contribution to the body's energy metabolism is considered to be zero, that is, they do not increase the calorie content of food.

Synthetic sweeteners are the subject of the loudest debate, there are studies that prove their toxic and carcinogenic effects.. But all of these experiments were conducted only on animals, and the doses used by the researchers are many times higher than those recommended in humans.. On the territory of our country, all the sweeteners listed below are allowed for use.. However, it is most rational to use them in a mixture. Then the dose of a separate sweetener is reduced, which means that the risk of side effects on health is reduced..

Saccharin The first of the synthetic sweeteners. Saccharin is 300 times sweeter than sugar, but more than 0.1% has a bitter taste.. When boiled, saccharin also becomes bitter.. This sweetener is practically not absorbed and 96-98% of it is excreted from the body unchanged..

The safety of saccharin has been questioned for over 30 years.. In numerous animal experiments, it has been found that the addition of saccharin to feed (in amounts of 1-10% of the daily portion of feed) causes cancer in test animals.. The most common site of malignancy is the urinary bladder.. However, whether saccharin is a carcinogen, or other conditions are to blame, where saccharin only played the role of the last drop, scientists have not been able to establish so far..

In a study of 592 people who consumed saccharin for 10 years, it was found that their risk of developing bladder cancer was 10% higher compared to the control group.. This study was done in 1980. In the future, many scientists refuted these data, and saccharin either disappeared or appeared among legal sweeteners..

It is now recognized that the risk from consuming saccharin at recommended doses (no more than 2.5-5 mg per kg of body weight per day) is much lower than from smoking or black coffee.. However, saccharin is not recommended for pregnant women and people with kidney disease..

Cyclamate Another sweetener with a dubious reputation. It is 30-50 times sweeter than sugar, and in fruit juices its sweetness almost doubles.. In addition, cyclamates do not have a bitter aftertaste like saccharin..

However, its history is also associated with a series of prohibitions.. In experiments on animals, cyclamates significantly caused the risk of developing bladder cancer, negatively affected the liver, and had a teratogenic effect (caused deformities in the fetus). But the doses that caused such an effect were exaggerated 500 times compared to those consumed by a person.. In the 70s, cyclamates were banned in many countries of the world, including the USSR. However, the ban was lifted a few years later.. Currently, the use of cyclomats is allowed in a dose not exceeding 7 mg per kg of body weight per day..

Aspartane Now it is this synthetic sweetener that is most widely used in the world and has an almost impeccable reputation.. It is 200 times sweeter than glucose and has no aftertaste, but its sweetness is reduced in tea with lemon.. Due to the use of aspartane, the calorie content of the diet is significantly reduced, since minimal amounts of additive are required to give a sweet taste.. The recommended dose is 40 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day..

The chemical structure of aspartane is the two amino acids phenylalanine and asparagine.. Aspartane is destroyed during heat treatment, which makes it unsuitable for the production of certain products.. But this sweetener is actively added to carbonated drinks.. When ingested, aspartane breaks down into its constituent amino acids, each of which is absorbed naturally.. Aspartan does not affect carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

To date, no studies have been presented that would reveal the harm of aspartane on the human body.. Concerns have been raised about methanol, which is released in small doses when the sweetener is digested. Methanol or wood alcohol is converted in the body into formaldehyde, which is a strong poison that primarily damages the nervous system.. It is these data that researchers refer to, claiming that carbonated drinks containing aspartane lead to nervousness, drowsiness, impaired attention and even vision, especially in children and people engaged in work that requires maximum concentration.. However, to date, aspartane is officially recommended for use by patients with diabetes, including pregnant women and children..

The production of sweeteners and sweeteners is a very profitable business, which, at minimal cost, gives tangible profits.. Artificial and even natural substitutes are ten times cheaper to manufacture than real sugar.. Perhaps some of the information about their real impact on a person is hushed up.

Is it worth risking your health by choosing supplements with a \? After all, if it’s about being overweight, it’s easier to completely refuse to add sugar to drinks than to look for a replacement.. According to surveys, many people only need a week to wean themselves from sweet tea and coffee..

Natalia DOLGOPOLOVA, therapist.

nedug. en.

e-news. com. ua.