Vitamins and Herbs at VitaNetonline.com

It could be assumed that in order to avoid the risks of sugar, artificial sweeteners would be the ideal alternative. Ironically, switching to a sugar substitute to enhance health is one of the worst things we can do. Among some of the most troubling food additives routinely consumed are artificial sweeteners, also referred to as non-nutritive sweeteners. Having received the FDA stamp of approval, they are liberally ingested with little thought to what their actual health risks may be. Andrew Weil, M.D., in his book, Natural Health, Natural Medicine, writes:

Recently, aspartame (NutraSweet) has become enormously popular. The manufacturer portrays it as a gift from nature, but, although the two component amino acids occur in nature, aspartame itself does not. Like all artificial sweeteners, aspartame has a peculiar taste. Because I have seen a number of patients, mostly women, who report headaches from this substance, I don't regard it as free from toxicity. Women also find that aspartame aggravates PMS (premenstrual syndrome). I think you are better off using moderate amounts of sugar than consuming any artificial sweeteners on a regular basis. A natural sweetener that may cause some people problems is sorbitol, originally derived from the berries of the mountain ash tree. Sorbitol tastes sweet but is not easily absorbed form the gastrointestinal tract and is not easily metabolized. It is a common ingredient of sugarless chewing gums and candies. If you eat a lot of it, you will probably get diarrhea. People with irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis should avoid sorbitol.

While thousands of Americans continue to consume aspartame in unprecedented amounts, controversy surrounding its safety lingers. Dr. Richard Wurtman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has reported that abnormal concentrations of neurotransmitters developed when he fed laboratory animals large doses of aspartame. He believes that the phenylalanine content of the sweetener actually manipulates and alters certain brain chemicals, a process that could initiate behavioral changes and even seizures. He also purports that while small quantities of aspartame may be safe, the cumulative effects of the compound could be serious, particularly if consumed with high-carbohydrate, low-protein snacks. But in spite of serious concerns, saccharine and aspartame packets sit in restaurant sugar bowls all over our country.

The FDA and Current Noncaloric Sweeteners
Though white sugar, turbinado, fructose, honey and corn syrup all qualify as natural sweeteners, none of these are calorie-free nor can they be used by people who suffer from blood sugar disorders. They can encourage weight gain and tooth decay, raise blood sugar quickly, and can also predispose certain individuals to yeast infections. These sugars can also contribute to indigestion, bowel disorders and, possibly, hyperactivity or ADD in children.

Pharmaceutical sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin qualify as calorie-free but come with significant limitations and health risks. Saccharin has been labeled with a warning that it has caused the development of cancer in laboratory animals. In 1970, cyclamates, another class of artificial sweeteners were banned because of the strong possibility that they are, in fact, carcinogenic. Aspartame has been marketed as a safe substance for the general public except for those few individuals who suffer from PKU (phenylketonuria), a relatively rare disorder. Aspartame is comprised of phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol (wood alcohol). Despite the protest of various organizations and health professionals, these pharmaceutical sweeteners have been approved by the FDA and are recognized as safe.