Sweeteners can serve as a substitute for sugar for a variety of different health issues. Unlike sugar, the manufacturers of sweeteners claim that the products can help you lose weight, maintain diabetic health and help prevent cavities. Although this may be true to a certain extent, sweeteners might not be as healthy as you think. Some sweeteners are made of "natural" ingredients, but they have not been proven to be any healthier than artificial sweeteners. Consult with your doctor before trying a new sweetener for any health condition.
Types
Typical sweeteners such as aspartame don't contain any calories. However, these products aren't derived from plant sources. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers honey, maple sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, date sugar, molasses and grape fruit concentrate as natural sweeteners. Some of these sources contain calories, a trait that a dieter will generally avoid.
Certain types of no-calorie sweeteners are marketed as being natural, because the original ingredients are derived from plants. An example is rebiana, better known as Truvia, which is made from stevia leaf extracts.
Benefits
Weight loss depends on reducing your daily calorie intake. By replacing sugar with no-calorie sweeteners, you can reduce the amount of calories you eat. According to Aetna, the American Diabetes Association advocates sweeteners that don't contain any calories as a safe way to control blood sugar levels. Your dentist may also recommend swapping sugar with sweeteners to prevent cavities. For example, if you are a soda drinker, you might drink diet versions instead. Keep in mind that sodas don't contain "all natural" sweeteners.
Misconceptions
If you don't generally eat much sugar to begin with, no-calorie sweeteners are unlikely to help you lose weight. According to MayoClinic.com, eating too many products with added sweeteners carries the risk of tooth decay, increased cholesterol and, ironically, weight gain. Many products that have artificial sweeteners have other caloric ingredients. The best sources of natural sugars are generally whole, fiber-rich foods such as fruits and certain vegetables.
Considerations
"Natural" sweeteners come from plant-based sources, but the products are processed, therefore diminishing their all-natural qualities. Even though the sweeteners don't contain calories, there are still some risks involved. If you are monitoring your carbohydrate consumption, it is important that you read all food labels, even if the products contain natural sweeteners. Aetna explains that the sweeteners themselves are carbohydrate-free, but some foods have carbohydrates to enhance the taste and provide more substance to the products.
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