Sweeteners play an increasingly important role in modern life. They sweeten foods and drinks without adding sugar or calories. Generally speaking, sweeteners can be divided into two major categories, including natural sweeteners and artificial sweeteners. Artificial Sweeteners VS Natural Sugar: Which One Is Better? With this question, Nutri Avenue today talks about the advantages and disadvantages of different sweeteners.
Artificial Sweeteners VS Natural Sugar: Will Artificial Sweeteners Be Banned?
On June 29, 2023, the WHO’s cancer research agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classified Aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Aspartame is a common artificial sweetener. It is popular for its high sweetness and very low-calorie content. It provides a sweet taste without harming dental health. However, this artificial sweetener may cause headaches, dizziness, and discomfort. Excessive use of aspartame may interfere with a person’s glucose metabolism. It may increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
However, research on aspartame cannot define the entire market for artificial sweeteners. Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are still very popular sugar substitute choices. They are generally sweeter than natural sweeteners.
Artificial Sweeteners VS Natural Sugar: Natural Sugar Has Potential Development.
Chemically synthesized artificial sugar substitutes were controversial before the “aspartame may be a carcinogen” occurred. In May 2023, the World Health Organization issued a new guideline on non-sugar sweeteners. The guidelines recommend avoiding sugar substitutes such as acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, and stevia.
Affected by the “sugar reduction” trend, consumers increasingly favor new sweeteners. Many food and beverage manufacturers have begun to replace or partially replace sucrose with bio-based sweeteners and have achieved success.
Bio-based sweeteners, or natural sweeteners, refer to high-intensity and safe sweeteners directly extracted from natural products or synthesized through refining. It not only has a good taste but also has strong solubility and stability. This sweetener has neither the high calories of sucrose nor the safety issues of chemically synthesized sweeteners. Natural sweeteners include healthy sugars such as psicose, tagatose, and mannose that are biosynthesized from starch.
3 Natural Sugar Recommended By Nutri Avenue
- Total Steviol Glycosides Stevia Extract
It is also known as steviol glycosides. It is a sweet compound extracted from Stevia Rebaudiana. It is about 200 to 400 times sweeter than sucrose. But it has no heat. It makes steviol glycosides an ideal alternative for many seeking low-sugar and sugar-free options. Steviol glycosides are widely used in beverages, candies, yogurt, and other foods to provide sweetness without adding calories.
In addition to providing a zero-calorie sweet taste, steviol glycosides are thought to have some potential health benefits. Research shows it has a positive effect on blood sugar control. The rationale is that it does not cause a significant increase in blood sugar levels. This natural sweetener is ideal for diabetics and those looking to control blood sugar. In addition, stevia glycosides have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may benefit cardiovascular health.
- Luo Han Guo Polysaccharide and Mogroside (Monk Fruit Extract)
Monk fruit polysaccharides and mogroside are natural sweetening substances extracted from Siraitia Grosvenorii. Monk fruit is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. The fruit is sweet and rich in polysaccharides. Monk fruit polysaccharide has a moderately sweet taste and is extremely low in calories. Making it an excellent choice for natural sweeteners.
These two natural sugars are not just sweeteners but are also thought to have medicinal value. Research shows they have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. They can enhance immune system function and prevent chronic inflammation-related diseases. Among them, Luo Han Guo polysaccharide is also considered to have hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and anti-tumor effects.
Although total stevia glycosides, monk fruit polysaccharides, and mogroside have broad application prospects in the field of natural sweeteners, further research is needed on their safety and long-term effects.
Artificial Sweeteners VS Natural Sugar: Which One Is Better?
Generally speaking, there are three sources of sugar substitutes on the market. One is a natural sweetener (sugar substitute) extracted from plants, such as mogroside, erythritol, steviol glycosides, etc. One is natural and synthetic, and xylitol is in this category. The third type is common artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and acesulfame potassium.
- From a cost perspective, under the same sweetness conditions as sucrose, using synthetic sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium is more cost-effective than using sucrose directly. In addition, in the raw material market, although erythritol is cheaper than aspartame, its sweetness-to-price ratio is low. In other words, natural sweeteners like erythritol need to be added in sufficient amounts to match the sweetness of aspartame. Therefore, based on a bottle of zero sugar drink, natural sweeteners will cost more than artificial sweeteners.
- From a health perspective, consumers are paying more attention to the ingredient list in food because of the news about aspartame. Consumers will trust labels such as zero sugar and natural sweeteners more. It proves that the natural sugar market has greater potential.
Conclusion
Artificial Sweeteners VS Natural Sugar: Will Artificial Sugar Be Substitute?
From a cost perspective, the two artificial sweeteners currently commonly used on the market, sucralose and acesulfame potassium, have a sweetness-to-price ratio similar to aspartame. They are also combined with aspartame in many formulations. So, they are expected to be a substitute for aspartame. If the two factors of sweetness and naturalness combine, the natural high-intensity sweetener stevia glycoside is expected to replace aspartame.
Looking at the entire sugar substitute market, many sugar substitute manufacturers have already deployed natural sweeteners. Their main business is focused on natural sugar substitutes such as stevia powder extract, monk fruit extract, and erythritol.
Nutri Avenue offers a variety of sweeteners, both artificial and natural. Welcome to contact us to support the research and development of healthy food.
