Sweeteners - Natural and artifical

Sweeteners enhance foods as some form of sugar whether natural or synthetic.  These additives both natural and synthetic are subjects of great debates.  Natural sugars have been used excessively for many decades contributing to diabetes and the artificial sugars have been linked to cancer. 

* Glucose – A natural sugar found in many foods

* Fructose – A natural sugar found in many fruits

* Sucrose – A natural sugar found in a number of plants.  We use it as table sugar (from sugar cane)

* Maltose -- A natural sugar found in grains like barley

* Galactose – A natural sugar found in milk

* Saccharin (E954)– An artificial sugar, rarely used today, high doses may cause cancer

* Sugar alcohols – Artificial sugars that taste sweet but don’t affect blood sugar levels.  Examples include sorbitol (E420) and maltitol (E965), which are found in the so-called “sugar free” gums and candy.

* Stevia (E960) -- A plant derived sweetener used in foods and drinks is banned in the USA

* Aspartame – Is not a sugar but rather derived from two amino acids phenylalanine and aspartate and has no calories.  This non-sugar sweetener is used in many drinks and foods.  Individuals that have phenylketonuria (PKU) need to stay away from these foods, as phenylalanine is highly toxic to these individuals.  All packaging has the warning that this food contains phenylalanine for that reason.

* Sucralose (Splenda)(E955) – Is a natural sugar that has been chlorinated.  This modified sugar has no calories.  This sugar is 600 times sweeter than sucrose and is used in many foods as well as candy and soft drinks.

* Acesulfame (Ace K)(E950)  – An artificial sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar.  This man-made sugar is sold under the trade names “Sunett” and “Sweet One”.  Your body doesn’t process this sugar and hence has no calories.