We often encounter people around us who dislike bitterness, dislike spicy food, or dislike sourness, but it is rare to find someone who dislikes sweetness. In contrast, those who enjoy sweet flavors are more common. Many foods and beverages in our daily lives contain high amounts of sugar, which in turn, are a significant source of calories, leading to obesity.
Sugar is widely present in many of the foods we consume, especially in beverages like milk tea, carbonated drinks, desserts, etc., all containing high levels of sugar. When we consume 100 grams of sucrose, we intake about 389 kilocalories, which is approximately one-sixth of the daily caloric needs for an adult. Hence, for those concerned about weight gain, reducing sugar intake seems urgent.
Indeed, sugar can easily lead to weight gain, but that doesn’t mean individuals concerned about their weight cannot enjoy sweet foods. It’s essential to know about sweeteners.
What are Sweeteners?
Sweeteners are not merely a single substance; they are a collective term for substances approved for use in food production that can provide sweetness. Essentially, they are artificial sweeteners. We perceive sweetness because the neural signals reach the brain, which then perceives the sweetness. Sweeteners work by replacing sugar with other molecules through this mechanism so that we can taste sweetness without the high calorie intake.
Are Sweeteners Safe?
Sweeteners are essentially food additives, and many people instinctively feel some level of reluctance towards them, fearing they might be harmful to health. However, the safety of the numerous sweeteners widely used today has been verified by authoritative bodies in various countries. Unless someone has phenylketonuria, the general population can consume sweeteners without worrying about adverse effects on their health.
Advantages of Sweeteners
While sugar tastes good, it contains high calories, a key factor in obesity. The advantage of sweeteners is that they provide sweetness with lower calorie content, meaning there’s no need to worry about gaining weight. Sweeteners used in our daily lives offer little to no energy, and their sweetness can be tens or hundreds of times that of sucrose. Thus, only a minimal amount is required to satisfy our cravings, allowing us to enjoy sweetness without the fear of weight gain.
When consumed within the normal range, sweeteners do not harm our bodies. However, it’s crucial to control the intake of sweetened products in our diet, as while sweeteners themselves do not cause weight gain, they may increase our appetite. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor our consumption levels.
