Millions around the world use “artificial sweeteners” as a replacement for natural sugar. This is done to reduce caloric intake. Are sweeteners an “innocent magic bullet” or should they henceforth be considered as “sweet poison” that can harm us? Can we continue to use artificial sweeteners with impunity or is there need for caution?
Let’s trace the history of sugar and sweetness.
In India, the manufacture of sugar from sugar cane dates back to a little over two thousand years. Initially we had only “raw sugar” but later improvements made it possible to obtain “refined sugar” by a process designed to remove the molasses. However, for a long time, sugar remained an expensive item and was even considered a “fine spice”. It was from 1500 AD onwards that technological enhancements turned sugar into a relatively inexpensive bulk commodity.
Sugar has always been the relish of humans and the toast of poets and lovers… “Sugar is like candy to my soul/sugar makes me rock and roll/lost for you, I’m so lost without you!” Scientists suggest that we are primed from birth to desire sugar at an instinctive level. Our sense of taste somehow evolves to covet sugar and salt.
Sugar intake leads to a rush of pleasure into our being. Neuroscientists using MRIs have shown that the consumption of sugar leads to dopamine release in the so-called “nucleus accumbens”– an area of the brain associated with motivation, novelty, and reward. And this being the same brain region implicated for the pleasurable effect of cocaine and heroin, it is small wonder that sugar is also as addictive. The old and the young are crazy about chocobars, chocolates, candies and everything that is sweet.
But, let’s be forewarned, excessive sugar harms us for more reasons than one: sugar raises cholesterol and triggers heart disease; it is a leading contributor to obesity in both children and adults; it is highly addictive; it make us more prone to cancer; it leads to insulin resistance and type II diabetes; it is bad for the teeth.
The discovery of substitutes for sugar came as a boon to mankind. A sugar substitute is a food additive that duplicates the effect of sugar in taste, but with less calories. Some sugar substitutes are natural and some are synthetic. There are many synthetic non-caloric artificial sweeteners (NAS) that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration but the three most common are Saccharin (Sweet’N Low), Sucralose (Natura) and Aspartame (Sugar-Free). These NAS are profitably used to assist in weight loss, to promote dental care and to achieve better control of diabetes.
Calorie-free NAS are available commercially as powder or granules and can be added instead of sugar to provide sweetness to any drink. They are also widely used in foods and drinks such as diet fizzy drinks or sodas and sugar-free yoghurts and desserts. Until recently, they were considered safe and “healthier” than natural sugar.
“But the year 2014 has been tough on artificial sweeteners. Three new studies suggest that artificial sweeteners are poor substitutes for sugar. Early in January, an investigation into their use revealed a disconcerting association with the onset of depression. Then, a long-term analysis of their use revealed they may contribute to overall weight gain. Last week, a series of experiments in both mice and humans suggested they contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and other metabolic ailments”.
“The compilation of scientific reports to support abstinence from these products, however, does put doctors and dietitians alike in a rather ominous place. For decades, reducing the consumption of sugar has been a major goal to improve health. In place of the natural sweetener, moving to artificial ones offering zero calories has been seen as a valid option. Yet, with the available reports decision makers are left with the unenviable position of having to choose the lesser of two evils”.
As we await further reports to clarify the beneficial or detrimental health value of artificial sweeteners let’s be cautious first, by getting accustomed to take our tea and coffee without any sweetener at all, whether natural or artificial; second, by avoiding excessive consumption of “diet” products like sodas, yoghurts and deserts believing they are harmless.
An anonymous bard wrote, “Sugar please don’t leave me / but I must, my time is up/ I love you/ I can’t live without you/and there lies the problem …”
In the wake of adverse reports both on sugar and artificial sweeteners, to all with a sweet tooth we can only say, “Hope for the best”.
(Dr. Francisco Colaço is a senior consulting physician and pioneer of Echocardiography in Goa)
