Whenever you consume a product that contains carbohydrates, the carbohydrates break down into glucose. Glucose can cause increases in your blood sugar levels. In an attempt to reduce blood sugar fluctuations, manufacturers created sucralose, an artificial sweetener that does not affect the body in the same manner. Understanding how each works in your diet can help you choose the right sweetener for you.
Significance
The macronutrient term “carbohydrate” refers to anything that breaks down into the glucose molecule. Think of glucose as food for your cells; your cells take in glucose to obtain energy. While proteins can serve as an energy source, glucose from carbohydrates is the preferred source for your body. By contrast, sucralose is an artificial sugar substitute. Sucralose is made from sugar molecules, but with three hydroxyl groups replaced with chlorine atoms, which helps sucralose retain sweetness. The changes in chemical makeup mean the body does not break sucralose down as glucose but instead eliminates the nutrient. You may better know sucralose as Splenda, the brand name for the sweetener.
Taste
As an artificial sweetener, sucralose is much sweeter than traditional sugar that breaks down into glucose, according to the Mayo Clinic website. If you are cooking with sucralose sweeteners, read your food labels to determine how to substitute sucralose for sugar.
Blood Sugar
One of the chief differences between glucose and sucralose is that glucose can increase your blood sugar while sucralose does not. Affecting your blood sugar does not necessarily mean glucose is bad for you; your body needs glucose for energy. However, too much glucose can be harmful because excess glucose in the body can desensitize your cells to the effects of insulin, a hormone that helps to introduce glucose into your cells. Over time, this desensitization can contribute to conditions such as diabetes or nerve damage. If you have diabetes, using sucralose instead of sugar might allow you to get a sweet taste without the dangerous impact on your blood sugar.
Calories
Foods prepared with sucralose tend to contain fewer calories than those prepared with sugar; this is because the body does not absorb as much sucralose as it does sugar. Because sucralose has been chemically altered from glucose, the body does not recognize it as food, according to Women to Women. While it may taste sweet to you, your body does not recognize it, meaning it will not give you energy or make you gain weight.
References
- Lab Tests Online; Glucose; March 2008
- American Diabetes Association: Checking Your Blood Glucose
- Women to Women; Sugar Substitutes and the Potential Danger of Splenda; Marcelle Pick, OB/Gyn NP; May 2011
- MayoClinic; Artificial Sweeteners: Understanding These and Other Sugar Substitutes; October 2010
- Elmhurst College; Glucose; Charles Ophardt; 2003
