Artificial sweetener is a kind of sweetener that tastes 1000 times sweeter than cane sugar. This non-natural sweetener can be an alternative to cane sugar as a food and beverage sweetener. Besides having a sweet taste, other types of artificial sweeteners also have other advantages such as low sugar, low calories, and other advantages. However, because this artificial sugar is non-natural, it can have an unfavorable effect on consumers.
Choose artificial sweeteners
Each artificial sweetener has different advantages according to its designation. Artificial sweeteners from stevia and corn extract are believed to have lower calories than cane sugar. Because it has low-calorie content and zero sugar, this sugar is intended for diabetics. Unlike the artificial sweeteners from aspartame and sucralose which diabetics should not consume. Because artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose have a sweet taste 1000 times the taste of cane sugar. The use of aspartame and sucralose is usually done for the packaged food and beverage industry. The price of this chemical sweetener is very cheap and very efficient for its use. One drop of aspartame is enough to make a liter of drink sweet. So this artificial material is very suitable for industry, not for routine consumption.
Side effects
Every chemical food ingredient has a negative impact if consumed in the long term. Although artificial sugar does not increase blood sugar levels, some have side effects that damage human nerves. The opinion of HJ Roberts, MD, stated that refined sugar has very fatal side effects. According to him, artificial sweeteners can have side effects such as convulsions and death. Other side effects are headache/migraine, dizziness, joint pain, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, and obesity. Some of the conditions encountered are itching, depression, fatigue, tachycardia, insomnia, blindness, palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety, speech disturbances, loss of sense of taste, vertigo, and dementia.
The long-term effects of excessive use of artificial sweeteners are dire. Therefore, restrictions on its use must be applied. If you want to be safer, you can use other natural sweeteners such as coconut sugar, palm sugar, or stevia.
