On average, Americans consume about 1/2 cup of added sugars each day, adding nearly 400 calories to their daily intake. High sugar intake has been associated with risk of heart disease in teenagers, according to the "Journal of the American Heart Association." If you are a diabetic or just trying to cut calories by cutting out some of the sugar in your diet for health reasons, you have likely considered Splenda-sweetened foods and beverages. If you have done online research on Splenda, you have surely come across numerous websites and blogs purporting it to be a poison. Splenda has been studied extensively in clinical settings, so before you dismiss this artificial sweetener, carefully consider research, including studies published in the journal of "Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology," that argue Splenda is a safe alternative to added sugar.
Chemical Structure of Sucralose
Splenda is the brand name under which sucralose is marketed and sold. Sucralose is derived from sucrose, or table sugar. Three hydroxyl groups on a sucrose molecule are replaced with chloride to yield sucralose, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, or chlorocarbon. Chlorocarbon refers to any chemical with chlorine attached to a carbon-hydrogen chain; many of which are toxic.
Sucralose Metabolism
The safety of sucralose is questioned because it is a chlorinated hydrocarbon thought to metabolize in the body and accumulate in fat cells. Although many chlorinated hydrocarbons are toxic and fat soluble, sucralose is highly insoluble in fat and, therefore, does not accumulate in fat cells like many chlorinated hydrocarbons. Your body does not break down this compound. About 75 percent of ingested sucralose is excreted in the feces intact and the rest is excreted in the urine.
Sucralose Widely Accepted as Safe
The Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives, and the Health Protection Branch of Health and Welfare Canada have all accepted sucralose as a safe artificial sweetener. The acceptable intake of sucralose is about 9 mg per 1 kg body weight per day, or 4.1 mg per 1 lb. of body weight per day, which translates to about 60 packets daily for a 183 lb., or 83 kg, person.
Calorie Contribution of Sucralose
Sucralose does not break down or dechlorinate in the body, so it alone does not contribute any calories to your diet. However, fillers are often added to make its consistency closer to table sugar. If dextrose or maltodextrin is added as a filler, expect about 2 to 4 calories to be added per packet of sucralose, or per 1 tsp. If you have 10 packets a day, this will add between 20 and 40 calories to your diet. Compared to the average 400 calories from added sugar Americans are consuming daily, sucralose is a far better alternative for your waistline.
References
- "Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology"; An Overview of the Safety of Sucralose; V. Lee Grotz, et al.; October 2009
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; Repeated Dose Study of Sucralose Tolerance in Human Subjects; I. McLean Baird; July 2000
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; Sucralose Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics in Man; A. Roberts, et al.; July 2000
- "Journal of the American Heart Association"; Consumption of Added Sugars and Indicators of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among US Adolescents; Jean Welsh, et al.; January 2011
