Municipal Administration of He Xi Nan, Zhonghe Road, Jianye District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province
Ever heard of Acesulfame Potassium or Sucralose? They are two of the most common sugar substitutes to give us our beloved foods and drinks that sweet taste without regular sugar. But what are these sweeteners, and how healthy or safe is it to use them in your food? In the following section, we are going to break it all down and then go in depth about some of these sweeteners; what is good and a bit more concern?!
While Acesulfame Potassium (Ace K, for short) is also an FDA -approved synthetic used to make lemons more palatable while a few individuals are able buy it on the store shelves. This means they are considered safe for people to eat by experts But still, some are worried about what these sweeteners might mean for our health in the long term. Indeed, there are studies that indicate it might cause gastrointestinal issues and worse yet, some even say the risk of cancer could be increased from consumption. In the same way, some research has found that Sucralose might be harmful for our "good" gut bacteria which support in digesting food and may alter blood sugar level thus energy. Even so, many people use them in their food and beverages today just to get rid of the “bad” sugars that we had for hours [source: Brownell].
So, let us get into the details of these sorts of sweeteners. Ace K is calorie-free, as it are Acesulfame Potassium or Ace k. It provides no caloric energy in your diet. It is 200 times sweeter than table sugar! Because of its super strong sweetness, it is usually combined with other sweeteners such as Sucralose or Aspartame to amp the flavor. Ace K appears in a number of products, from zero-calorie drinks to sugar-free gum and even some baked goods like cakes and cookies.
Sucralose, being hundreds of times sweeter than Ace K as well as non-caloric is another no calorie sweetener which you can include in your diet. It is derived from sugar, but it undergoes a specific process that leaves no calories in sucralose. Sucralose can be found in various drinks like diet soda and even some baked goods or snacks. However, it is marketed under the brand name Splenda that many people are aware of.
The only plus side is that both Ace K and Sucralose are non-caloric sweeteners. In other words, you can satisfy your sweet tooth without having to resort ice cream or cookies that would make gain weight and rise up your blood sugar. That's particularly important for people with diabetes, who still have to be mindful of their sugar intake. Because these sweeteners are so much sweeter than sugar, you need to use a small amount of them for the desired level of sweetness. It allows you to relish the sugary taste but with lesser sugar compared to your normal snacks or drinks; A great way of user's preference for taking healthy decisions.
Although it has many great points, Ace K and Sucralose may not be all unicorns and rainbows. And for those who are sensitive some people may feel sick, get headaches or have allergic reactions when they eat these sweeteners. Moreover, since the taste of these sweeteners is very intense it could make you start craving super-sweet foods and have a harder time to enjoy natural ones as vegetables and fruits that we may find not so sweet. One thing to bear in mind is that not all foods containing Ace K and Sucralose are healthy. While these may sound healthy, they often also include preservatives and artificial flavors or are high in salt—none of which is good for your health.