Artificial Sweeteners: A Healthier Alternative Compared to Regular Sugar

Introduction

Diabetes is one of the most common conditions affecting Canadians with an estimated 2 million Canadians, or 1 in 16 people, having been diagnosed with diabetes1. As of 2009, 48 per cent of Canadians were overweight or obese and the most common type of diabetes Canadians are infected with are type 2 diabetes1. Myocardial infarctions most commonly referred to as heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, and over fifty percent of these deaths caused by heart disease in 2009 are in fact men2. Heart disease has been linked directly to numerous health defects in the average human with obesity and diabetes being the most particular. In a study published in 2014 conducted by Dr. Hu found that over a course of a 15-year study, people who got 17% to 21% of their calories from added sugar had a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease3. A study conducted by the National Cancer Institute revealed that the average American would consume a record amount of 24 teaspoons of added sugar per day3. Regarding the number of artificial sweeteners consumed currently stands at 13 teaspoons, which is remarkably lower than expected than the amount of natural sugar consumed. Low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) offer an edible alternative to caloric sugars such as table sugar. LCS are now found in grain products including breads, cereals, and granola bars, dairy products including sugar-free yogurts, no-sugar added ice cream, and flavored milk4. Consumption of LCS has increased significantly in recent years and this trend is expected to continue but some controversy exists surrounding their use such that they are used as a restricted dietary tool and a method to avoid unwanted weight gain and helps reduce the chances of a diabetes diagnosis. Worldwide numbers suggest the number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases increased by forty-one percent between nineteen sixty to and two thousand and thirteen, increasing from 12.3 million deaths to 17.3 million deaths5. By observing the information, it is seen that there is a direct correlation between the average American consuming artificial sweeteners with the decreased chance of cardiovascular disease. This goes on to raise the question of whether low-calorie sweeteners are a better substitute to natural table sugar.

Evidence For The “Yes” Side

In order to achieve a conclusive observation, it is critical to comprehend the advantages and disadvantages for the uses of LCS. The use of low-calorie sweeteners are used as a dietary tool to assist in weight loss plans or to help in the prevention of excess weight gain. Artificial sweeteners have virtually no calories. Studies tend to show a positive correlation between low calorie sweeteners and weight loss in children and adolescents6. LCS can assist in weight loss, but because there are likely many lifestyle and genetic differences between children and families weight gain is a possibility. Short-term controlled test trials have shown the use of LCS to be beneficial to people with a high body mass index (BMI) and has been a factor in modest weight reduction in overweight and obese adolescents6.

Controlled weight gain is not the only health advantage LCS consumption is linked to. The use of low calorie sweeteners can be used as a method to reduce the chances of a positive diabetes diagnosis. Artificial sweeteners are not carbohydrates and unlike traditional table sugar, they do not raise blood sugar levels during consumption7. In fact, most artificial sweeteners are considered 'free foods' — foods containing less than 20 calories and 5 grams or less of carbohydrates — because they do not count as calories or carbohydrates on a diabetes level7.

The consumption of sugar plays an important role in the development of tooth decay and other issues with oral health. Artificial sweeteners are not fermentable and therefore will not be able to be used by bacteria, which restricts bacteria from developing the acids that decay your teeth8. Research shows that extended uses of artificial sweeteners do not affect the teeth’s structure nor have any underlining affect towards its complexity8.

Evidence For “No” Side

In contrary, despite the fact that LCS consumption has been linked to negative diabetes diagnosis and as a dietary tool to restrict weight gain, studies suggest long-term consumption of low calorie sweeteners can lead to cardiovascular diseases and numerous other health defects. One of their potential problems is that they may disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut9. The bacteria in your gut play a major role in many of your body’s processes. Beneficial bacteria protect your gut against infection assist in the production of important vitamins and nutrients and helps to regulate your immune system9. Studies show that artificial sweeteners cause glucose intolerance by altering the gut’s microbiota9. The consumption of LCS has proven to help in the development of glucose intolerance by alternating the intestinal microbiota9. These LCS lead to harmful metabolic effects that are taken away by the use of antibiotic treatments9. According to the research, scientists were able to identify different types of LCS’ that have altered metabolic pathways and are linked to most major metabolic diseases9. This demonstrates that LCS can negatively affect the glucose intolerance in healthy human subjects.

Negative hormonal changes occur after artificial sweetener consumption. Studies have shown that large consumptions of LCS’ tends to lead to increased motivation to eat and increased appetite, which can induce a significant weight gain amongst individuals9. Changes in the activation of your taste receptors after LCS consumption prevent responses that normally serve to maintain homeostasis10.

Artificially sweetened beverages consumed at a consistent rate can cause hypertension and when consumed, humans are at risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases11. Studies suggest post-menopausal women suffer from elevated risks for cardiovascular diseases such as cardiovascular disease mortality and overall mortality among women when they consume two or more diet soft drinks daily1. A recent meta-analysis indicated that artificially sweetened beverages are associated with 15% increase in the risk of hypertension12.

Comparison Of “Yes” Vs “No”

While both arguments are credible, through research can further indicate the advantages and disadvantages of LCS consumption. It is evident that long-term usage of LCS can lead to congested heart diseases. Dr. Hu of the National Cancer Institute conducts this study and it was done over a 15-year span. His research shows that people who got 17% to 21% of their calories from added sugar (i.e. LCS) had a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease3. This research has been accredited by the National Cancer Institute and is broadly recognized3. On the contrary, the positive implications of long-term LCS consumption states that it can help prevent tooth decay and improve oral health. Study conducted by S.Swithers (2016) dictates that LCS is not fermentable so bacteria are restricted from developing the acids needed to affect the teeth’s complexity7. This study was conducted with a small survey size with nearly 15-20 people and two of which were recorded to having prior oral health problems7. The negative impact of LCS consumption seems to have more credibility due to the time spent on the research. Dr. Hu spent nearly 15 years conducting his research with a larger survey size, which was about 300-recorded adolescents with each person having no prior health defects3. Larger sample sizes provide much more accurate results while smaller sample sizes the possibility of a skew in the data.

Topic Justification Paragraph

Artificial sweeteners are often the topic of heated debate. On one hand, they claim to increase your risk of cancer and harm your blood sugar and decrease your gut health. On the other hand, it is argued that most health corporations have officially deemed them safe such that many people use them to reduce their sugar intake, as a way to help lose weight, and maintain a constant weight. Being obese increases the chances of developing the common type of diabetes, type 2 diabetes. Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes. They are derived from naturally occurring substances. As a substitute to avoid this disaster, artificial sweeteners are used to help moderate weight gain, which can inevitably help reduce the chances of diabetes in humans. This topic matters to myself because obesity is a common health risk that can easily be avoided if the right precautions are taken. Many can argue the facts that sweeteners are healthy or not healthy but my research will help place a non-bias decision on whether artificial sweeteners are seen as a viable substitution to regular sugar.

Conclusion

Based on the research conducted it can be concluded that continuous consumption of low calorie sweeteners can have detrimental effects on the human body. After viewing the sides arguing that low calorie sweeteners can be a beneficial substitute to table sugar, the negative implications of LCS consumption supersedes the beneficial implications. After my preliminary findings and through research conducted, artificial sweeteners do not make a more viable substitution than regular sugar. Artificial sweeteners can be argued that their usage helps prevent obesity and is used as a dietary tool to prevent weight gain. However, the evidence supported shows that when artificial sweeteners are consumed at a much larger amount it tends to lead to a number of health defects such as hypertension, glucose intolerance and can be a causing factor of an early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies conducted demonstrates the negative impact of LCS usage. Hypertension is caused by the continued usage of LCS beverages and post-menopausal women are at risk of increasing heart diseases if they consume more than two drinks daily. Therefore, after profound analysis, research suggests that artificial sweeteners do not make a better substitute to table sugar.