Thursday, January 29, 2009

Sugar Substitutes For Intolerance

Sprinkle artificial sweetener on doghnuts for a satisfying sugar alternative.


Individuals with a sugar intolerance experience a range of intestinal symptoms that include bloating, abdominal cramps, flatulence and diarrhea, according to a report in the journal "Digestive Diseases and Sciences." This is a difficult condition to manage, since many foods contain sugars -- from the fructose in fruits to the sucrose in cookies to the lactose in dairy products. One of the most significant dangers of a sugar intolerance is diabetes, and proper diet and exercise are your best defense against developing this disorder. Sugar substitutes often help satisfy the palates of sugar intolerance sufferers.


Stevia


Stevia is an herb native to Paraguay that has been used to sweeten food for centuries. It is a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners. Stevia does not contain any actual sugar and is calorically neutral. While you can usually find stevia in your local health food store, you can also grow the herb at home.








Aspartame


Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that was first introduced in the United States in 1981. While there has been significant controversy over its safety, the FDA has conducted several studies and concluded that it is not dangerous. Aspartame breaks down into two amino acids -- phenylalanine and aspartic acid -- which are both commonly found in everyday foods. It is used in many consumer products -- from soft drinks to ice cream -- and is available in powder form for sweetening coffee, tea and desserts.


Sucralose


Sucralose is a sweetener derived from the sucrose sugar. While it is chemically similar to sucrose and tastes similar, it does not contain any calories. It is more convenient for baking and cooking than stevia, since you can substitute sucralose in a one-to-one ratio to sugar for recipes. While criticisms in the media have questioned the safety of sucralose, testing by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Health Canada, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives and the Japanese Food Sanitation Council have found it to be safe.


Xylitol


Xylitol is a carbohydrate found in many fruits and vegetables. Isolated as a powder or a liquid, it has been used as a sweetener since the 1960s. In addition to tasting sweet, xylitol is also used as a dental treatment to reduce decay and is an ingredient in many toothpastes and chewing gums.

Tags: sugar intolerance, artificial sweetener, been used, does contain, United States