Chic & Health

Sponsored Links

Most beverages consumed by the average citizen has some sort of added sweetener. This can include products like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners like Ace-K or aspartame. Although taste is important for most people, the safety of consuming many of these sweeteners is under the debate by food manufacturers and health officials; as well as the FDA. As a result, beverage makers and distributors have come out with new all natural versions of many products. This a good development in light of research that suggests that some sweeteners have led to health problems. However, not all natural sweeteners are as natural as they seem.

Pure Cane Sugar

Among sweeteners, pure cane sugar is perhaps the most health wise choice for consumers. This is due to the unprocessed and unrefined nature of pure sugar, as well as a lack of certain chemicals used in other sweeteners that have been linked to dangerous side effects. It is generally brown in color and more course in nature than refined sugars, and can often be found in health food stores or on the health food aisle of national supermarkets.

High Fructose Corn Syrup: Uses and Misinformation

High Fructose Corn Syrup, or HFCS, is used in many products we buy every day. It is a heavily processed sweetener comprised mainly of corn syrup, and is more cost efficient than sugar because it is much sweeter in nature than regular sugar and has a much longer shelf life, a real benefit to manufacturers.

When reading labels, youll find High Fructose Corn Syrup in many different products from things like soft drinks that you expect to contain sweeteners, to other products like iced tea and juices where its presence might surprise you. And, if you look closely at the labels, youll also notice that sometimes, products that claim to be All Natural have HFCS hidden in the ingredient list, which makes them not really all that Natural after all.

Debates have erupted regarding the widespread use of High Fructose Corn Syrup, primarily because it is expected by some officials to be a key player in the obesity epidemic. Some studies have suggested that HFCS is not metabolized by the body in the same way as sugar and effect the chemicals in the brain that let the body know when it is full. It may also contribute to excess fat storage, resulting in higher weight gain than is customary with natural sugars.

Some studies fight against these claims, however, stating that high fructose corn syrup is no more harmful than table sugar and that all sweeteners, regardless of where they are originated, should be consumed in moderation. This, in fact, is true as only 10% of daily caloric intake should be comprised of any sweetener, including natural varieties.

Acesulfame Potassium

One of the less talked about sweeteners in the Sweetener Debate is Acesulfame potassium, also known as Ace K. Ace K is a calorie free sweetener along the same lines of aspartame and sucralose. Many diet sodas and other diet beverages contain Ace K as a sweetener because it enables them to give their products a sweet taste without additional calories.

Ace-K is commonly used in combination with other artificial sweeteners to heighten the effects. Using more than one sweetener in the same product enhances the overall flavor and allows the diet version of a product to taste as appealing as possible.

Ace-K and similar products are especially beneficial to diabetics because they do not raise blood sugar the way sugar does. They also do not contribute to tooth decay. However, despite these benefits, all artificial sweeteners should be used in moderation.

Although some sweeteners are more harmful than others, it still stands that all should be consumed in small quantities. Whether sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners like Ace-K; each has its own effects on the body and the waistline. That said, it is important to check food labels before buying soda or other foods and beverages to ensure that you know which sweeteners are being used and the amounts in which they are present.

Imbibe is a leader in developing great tasting private label teas, energy drinks, energy shots and sodas. Please visit http://www.imbibeinc.com to learn more about who Imbibes.