The American Diabetes Association confirms that artificial sweeteners as sugar alternatives for diabetics is fine, the option to take in giving more taste and zing in diabetic meals and diabetic diet-weekly meal plans.
Here are three artificial sweeteners approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, available almost anywhere where artificial sweeteners can be found, and safe for a diabetic’s consumption.
Aspartame – The NutraSweet and Equal brand of artificial sweeteners use aspartame, which is rated to be 180 to 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. It is often available in packet form, and is often used to sweeten coffee blends and similar drinks. As a cooking ingredient, aspartame is considered useless since excessive heat lessens its sweetness factor.
At one time, it was linked with cancer, with reports claiming that aspartame causes the dreaded disease. However, research hasn’t been able to link an aspartame-cancer connection. Aside from being FDA Approved, the American Diabetes Association and the American Medical Association advocate and support aspartame’s safety for diabetic consumption, but not for those afflicted with phenylketonuria.
Sucralose – utilized by the Splenda brand, sucralose is rated to be 600 times sweeter than regular sugar, and can be used as though it were regular sugar.
Fine sucralose grounds can take the place of sugar in cooking recipes, which makes it ideal for diabetic meals. American Diabetes Association and FDA approved, sucralose is safe for all diabetes types.
Saccharin – hailed to be the first of its class, saccharin came about in 1879, and is rated to be 200 to 700 times sweeter than regular sugar. The Sweet’N Low brand utilizes saccharin, along with popular diet soda drinks and diet food items.
Like aspartame, saccharin is available in packet form. Also, it can be used in cooking.
At one time in its history, saccharin was associated with bladder cancer, when a group of lab rats developed bladder tumors after its consumption. The FDA and National Cancer Association have dismissed saccharin as a bladder cancer factor for humans, safe for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics, but an artificial sweetener which pregnant women should stay away from.
With FDA Approved artificial sweeteners, Diabetics have no reason not to enjoy some sweetness in their meals, a break from the highly demanding and taxing ways in keeping constant tabs over body weight and blood sugar levels.
Sugar Alternatives for Diabetics,
