Lower calorie artificial sweeteners or not? At first, the decision seems easy.  To enjoy the sweetness we want in our food and beverages without the hassle of all the calories?  Extra fluffy muffin tops and saddlebags everywhere breathe a collective sigh of relief, right? However, the debate over whether or not the use of artificial sweeteners are a good idea still rages on. 

The Pro-Artificial Sweetener Argument

The pro-artificial sweetener argument says that their use indirectly spares us from chronic diseases as heart disease. People are seemingly free to consume what they wish.  With the use of any one of the 5 different sweeteners that the Food and Drug Administration has approved (saccharin [Sweet’n Low], acesulfame [Sweet One], aspartame [Equal, NutraSweet], neotame, and sucralose [Splenda]), we can argue that calorie intake lessens.  The problem is, according to Holly Strawbridge of Harvard Medical School’s Health blog, people may tend to take in excess calories because they feel too “safe” with the low/no calorie sweeteners (Big Mac, fries, apple pie and a diet Coke?)

The Anti-Artificial Sweetener Argument

Frequent consumption of artificial sweeteners may also increase our craving for more sweets.  A San Antonio Heart Study showed that participants who drank more than 21 diet drinks a week were twice as likely to become overweight as people who didn’t consume diet drinks.

As stated by a 2013 CNN.com article, scientists at Purdue University claim that synthetic sweeteners fool the body by acting as if they’re providing the body with real food. Simply put, the body isn’t quite sure how to react to it.  When that same body is then given real sugar, it doesn’t adequately release the hormones that aide in the regulation of blood sugar and pressure.  If those functions are out of wack, we’re talking about problems with diabetes and chronic heart conditions and abnormalities.

Foods with high a sugar content (In their natural form, i.e. fruit) are easier for the body to process.  Not to mention whatever other nutritional benefits they may offer, say being high in fiber.  However, foods made with refined and more concentrated sugar can really do a number on blood glucose (blood sugar) and insulin (helps keep blood sugar under control) levels. 

The Trick is Moderation

The trick, it seems, is moderation. The more natural our foods and beverages, the better able our bodies are to take them on.  Does this mean you absolutely must throw away everything in your cabinet with an artificial sweetener in the list of ingredients?  Not necessarily.  But this doesn’t mean that the other extreme is a good idea either. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, run it by your healthcare provider, and see what they s/he has to say. They are familiar with you and your medical history, and can provide great advice as to how to take the best possible care of your body.

Shari Grant is a Registered Nurse in South Florida, where she was raised in a (very!) Jamaican home. Some of the loves of her life are words (both reading and writing them) and missions work. She enjoys spending time with friends and family while living for a good laugh - one that makes her belly ache and her eyes water. Her bottom line goal in life is to make the Lord smile and maybe even serve Him up a chuckle from time to time, too.