Substitute of Sugar

Substitute of Sugar

Sugar, is an essential commodity in our day to day use. But in blood–results diabetes, heart disease & others. Diabetes, a silent killer, invites various diseases in our body. Peoples are also aware about the disadvantages of sugar.

What is Sugar Substitute?

Normally the sweetener which is used to increase the taste of food, density of food, instead of sugar is called sugar-substitute. This sugar-substitute can be made from synthetic or natural source. But sugar-substitute is must be approved by United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

This sugar-substitute is divided in two types-1.Non Nutritive Intense Sweetner.2.Nutritive Bulk Sweetner.

Why Sugar-Substitute is required?

ü       Weight Loss: Maximum sugar-substitute has a “0” calorie or very less calorie’s. To control body weight sugar-substitute is the only alternative of sugar.

ü       Dental Care: Scientist says that the artificial & natural sugar-substitute is very tooth friendly. Normally sucrose or sugar is deposited in the root of the teeth & fermented, causes are formation of bacteria around the teeth & dental plaque grows. Sugar-substitute is not fermented, so that the creation of dental plaque is less.

ü       Diabetes Mellitus: To control the blood sugar level the sugar-substitute is the only alternative.

ü       Reactive Hypoglycemia: Avoid hypoglycemic food & use artificial sugar-substitute if Insulin is increased in blood.

ü       Rate: Sugar-substitute is 300-600 times extra sweets than sugar. That’s why its requirement is less in food in comparison with sugar.

Mainly three types of sugar-substitute is used in USA

ü       Saccharine(Sweet ‘N Low)

ü       Aspartame(Equal, Nutra Sweet)

ü       Sucralose(Splenda,Altem)

Syclamet, ACK, and Neotem are used as sugar-substitute in various countries. To increase of sweetness & texture in sweets sugar alcohol is used as a Bulking Agent, such as Polyol, Sorbitol, Xylitol, Isomalt, Erithritol etc. Now Stevia the only natural sugar-substitute is used in many countries which is 300 times extra sweets than sugar.

Saccharine: Synthetic sugar-substitute.500 times extra sweets than normal sugar. It can be used as hot or cold. It is available in the market as a tablet as well as liquid form. From 21st Dec.2001 FDA allows Saccharine to sell in the open market after scientist clears that it is not harm full for human.

Aspartame: Highly popular sugar-substitute. It has no smell, white & crystal like.200 times extra sweets than sugar. It is selling in the market as a Nutra Sweet, Equal trade name. From 1981 USFDA & UNFAO & WHO allows Aspartame to use as sugar-substitute.

Sucralose: Sucralose is made by replacement of three Hydroxyl group from Sucrose by clorine.600 times extra sweets than sugar. It is selling in the market as Splenda, Altem trade name. It is mainly used in Beverage, Frozen Dessert, and Baked & Fried food industries. From 1998 FDA allows Sucralose to sell in the market as sugar-substitute.

Acesulfame-K/ACK: 200 times extra sweets than sugar. From 1988 FDA allows this sugar-substitute to sell in the market .It is used extensively in Food & Beverage industries.

Neotame: It is more similar as Aspartame. 8000 times extra sweets than sugar & from 2002 FDA allows this sugar-substitute to sell in the market as General Purpose Sweetener.

Sugar Alcohol: To increase the sweetness & texture in the hard food, some bulking agent is used instead of sugar. They are mainly sugar alcohol. It is heavily used in Candy, and Chewing Gum industries. Some examples of sugar alcohols are: Polyol, Sorbitol (2.6 kilocalorie), Xylitol (2.4 kilocalorie), Isomalt (2 kilocalorie), Erithritol has no calorific value. Plus point of sugar alcohol is:

·         Sweetness is greater than sugar but calorific value is less.

·         Possibilities of build dental caries is less.

·         Sorbitol is directly converted to fructose. It is ideal for diabetes patient.

·         Sugar alcohols have a bulk feelings as well as sweetness. For this reasons sugar alcohol’s has an increasing demand in food industries instead of sugar or syrup.

But research is still going on sugar alcohol.

Stevia: Recently as natural Sugar-substitute stevia’s demand is increasing.300 times extra   sweets than sugar. Calorie free. Stevia is made from Stevia Relandiana, a plant of South America. Stevia is used as alternative sweetener in Paraguay & Brazil since very long time. It is also used in Soft Drinks, Ice-Cream, Candy, and Bakery Industries in Japan. Stevia is not used in Europe & America because FDA is not giving permission to sell in the market.

Hope Sugar-substitute helps world to survive a long & control Diabetes.