Sweeteners

Sweeteners are foods that are added to food to increase its sweetness. They can be natural or artificial.

1. Natural sweeteners - these are substances obtained from natural sources. For example:

   • Sugar, which is extracted from sugar cane or beets.
   • Honey produced by bees from flower nectar.
   • Syrups such as maple or agave.
   • Fruit concentrates obtained from grapes, apples and other fruits.
   • Stevia, an extract from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, which is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar.

2. Artificial sweeteners - these are chemicals that were created in the laboratory. This group includes:

   • Aspartame, which is used in many “dietary” products, such as soft drinks.
   • Sucralose, which is produced from sugar by chemical processes.
   • Saccharin, which was one of the first artificial sweeteners.
   • Acesulfame K, another artificial sweetener used in sugar-free products.

Although artificial sweeteners contain fewer calories (or none at all), there is a lot of controversy surrounding their use. Some studies indicate a link between artificial sweeteners and certain diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, although definitive conclusions have not yet been made.

If you plan to use sweeteners, it is important to remember that moderation is the key to a healthy diet. It is advisable to avoid excessive consumption of both artificial and natural sweeteners.