Sugar substitutes can provide a way to sweeten foods without the high calories normally associated with sugar. Although sugar substitutes can be safe and helpful --- if used in moderation -- for adults and children who need to cut their daily calories or people with diabetes who need to control their sugar intake, you should use them sparingly in the diet of a healthy child.
Significance
The National Cancer Institute states that no clear evidence shows that artificial sweeteners cause cancer or pose any other significant risk to humans despite years of research into their effects. Although they might not cause health problems, pediatrician Dr. William Sears, the author of "The Family Nutrition Book," urges parents to keep them out of the diets of children. He emphasizes that artificial sweeteners might increase the risk of "artificial reactions," including problems with learning or behavior.
According to Sears, children should get the carbohydrates their bodies need for energy by eating primarily complex carbohydrates, such as those found in whole grains, and the fructose sugars found naturally in fruits.
Types
Sugar substitutes can include nutritive sweeteners that contain calories, like honey, molasses, sugar syrup or sugar alcohol, or non-nutritive sweeteners that do not contain calories, including acesulfame K, aspartame, saccharin or sucralose. Many "reduced calorie", "light" or "sugar-free" foods contain non-nutritive sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners must receive the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before manufacturers sell them or add them to foods. If you are unsure about whether a product contains artificial sweeteners, the American Academy of Family Physicians suggests checking food labels for these sugar substitutes.
Considerations
Even the healthiest sugar substitutes should not be a regular part of your child's diet, according to the staff of the Center for Young Women's Health at the Children's Hospital of Boston. They note that the most nutritious foods and drinks, such as low-fat dairy, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, do not contain any type of sugar substitutes. Sugary foods or foods with artificial sweeteners can also fill up your child, making her less likely to eat more nutritious foods.
Warnings
Although artificial sugar substitutes do not pose a health risk to most children, those with the hereditary condition phenylketonuria should avoid aspartame since they cannot properly metabolize it.
Another concern for all children is that sugar alcohols --- naturally occurring plant carbohydrates found in many sugar-free or reduced-sugar foods -- carry a risk of digestive side effects. Your child's body cannot completely digest sugar alcohols, sothese sweeteners -- including sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol and isomalt---can cause loose stools and gas, especially when eaten in excess.
Prevention/Solution
The Center for Young Women's Health staff suggest that you can make your child's food more flavorful without using honey, sugar or artificial sweeteners. They recommend adding sweet spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, to baked goods, yogurt, cooked cereals or coffee. You can put cocoa powder or vanilla extract into puddings or baked goods to add flavor and then cut some of the sugar. Concentrated fruit juice or fruit butters can also add sweetness to many of your favorite recipes.
Member Comments