Which is worse for you -- too much sugar or artificial sweeteners? (substitute, organic)

[Stumbler.]

Some folks I know that have a sweet tooth (though not myself as I seem to crave sweets less than the average person) are now going for products with artificial sweeteners as substitute, with zero sugar and believe them to be healthier than the high-sugar desserts they ate previously.

I've heard that artificial sweeteners are not very good but that the side effects from medical studies are inconclusive. Are they really a good alternative?

[elnina]

I would think that natural extracts like date sugar, agave nectar, xylitol and stevia are great natural substitutes, so there is no need to reach for artificial sweeteners. They are never a healthy alternative.

Products listed below you can buy in health food shops and online.

* Date syrup or date sugar (not sugar at all) is made from dates, so it contains all the vitamins, minerals and fiber of the fruit. It can be used in equal parts as direct substitute for sugar, especially in baking. It is metabolized slowly so it does not cause energy highs and lows.

* Agave nectar is a natural juice extracted from agave, the same plant that's processed into tequila. Agave nectar does not cause dramatic blood sugar fluctuations so energy levels remain more consistent. It is 42 percent sweeter than white sugar, so less is needed in recipes.

* Xylitol is a widely approved sweetener for people with diabetes and sugar intolerance. It is extracted from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables. Xylitol is a great tasting bulk sweetener with 40% less calories than sugar. The best part is that it is actually known to reduce the incidence of tooth decay and offer protection against cavities.

* Stevia is a South American herb that has been used as a sweetener by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for hundreds of years. It has a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia is calorie-free and doesn't upset blood sugar levels. In fact, it can actually assist in regulating blood-sugar levels.

You can read more about healthy choices here:
Healthy Sugar Alternatives with their Glycemic Index

[Caligula1]

How about Splenda? I like to use that all the time even for baking some things.

[chicagojlo]

I avoid artificial sweeteners wherever possible. The fact that some are banned in some countries speaks volumes to me.

For me eating the real thing forces you to pay more attention to how much of it you're eating. Thats one thing I hated about Weight Watchers - they were all about finding ways for you to eat the same amounts of the same foods that got you overweight to start with, just now filled with chemicals instead of calories. There isn't much of a lesson in that.

[nan5623]

If I want sugar ~~ I use sugar. No artificial sweetners for me thanks.

[Bulldogdad]

Personally I try to use bee puke whenever possible.

[elnina]

Splenda is the commercial name of a sucralose-based artificial sweetener derived from sugar.
After twenty years of NutraSweet® (aspartame) dominating the sweetener market, people are realizing for themselves that aspartame really is a foul food chemical tragically harmful to their health. Now, people think Johnson & Johnson’s Splenda, made from sucralose, has come to the rescue as the newest chemical sugar replacement “made from real sugar.” People don’t want to hear that it may be just as dangerous as aspartame, and this white knight of sweeteners is no better improvement. New chemical sweeteners (like Splenda) and the sweetener blends (aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame K blended together in one product) may be causing users to show signs of weight gain, disruption of sleep patterns, sexual dysfunction, increases in cancer, MS, Lupus, diabetes, and a list of epidemic degenerative diseases. The corporations continue to stand tough in their denial of any connection to chemical sweetener additives.
Splenda (Sucralose) Toxicity Exposed

[Wilson513]

What is the problem with sugar again? Is this just a calorie thing or is sugar really harmful to adults?

[jade408]

I think the problem is in the amount of sugar. Especially the added sweeteners. I know i have been trying to cut down, but I don't really have many places left. I do not drink much soda or juice. (1-2X per month). Coffee and sugar intake is all over the place, since it depends on the coffee and milk ratio.

But sugar is added to so many processed foods, it is pretty hard to control the amount if you eat out or have processed food.

At home I use sugar, honey, agave and occasionally stevia in beverages. The artificial sweeteners have an aftertaste to me, so I only use them out of desperation to sweeten iced tea when i am out.

[Pivot Point]

Artificial sweeteners are worse.

Artificial foods add to our toxic load and our bodies are not designed to consume them. If sugar consumption became an issue for me, i.e., diabetes, I'd rather go without any sweeteners at all.