WHY WE SHOULD AVOID ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

An effort to fulfill the food needs of an increasingly diverse society, this time we have become accustomed to drinking beverages that contain artificial sugars, artificial sweeteners may initially produced to meet the needs of food for people with diabetes or food products that contain low calories. However, this artificial sweetener is now also already widely used by the people who do not have diabetes. This course will in turn harmful to health broadly, as the essential content contained sweet is not natural. Here are the types of artificial sweeteners that are common on the market:

Aspartame (corn sugar). Aspartame is a sugar diet that its use is approved by the food and drug control agency or the American FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This artificial sweetener is a dipeptide methyl ester, L-phenylalanine methyl ester with the sweetness level is approximately 160-200 times the sweetness of sucrose sugar.

Saccharin. Saccharin is no calorie sweetener that is made up of compounds benzosulfamida the sweetness level is approximately 300-500 times than sugar. Characteristic of saccharin is often caused bitter taste bandwagon (after taste) after consumption, is related impurity content of the material.

Acesulfame Potassium. Acesulfame potassium level of sweetness about 200 times than sucrose or sugar. The surplus, have stable properties on heating and no calories. These sweeteners are excreted in the urine unchanged.

Sucralose. Sucralose is a derivate of sucrose, has a rate of approximately 600 times the sweetness of sucrose. So far sucralose was declared safe, with a maximum value of 10 mg per kg of body weight, despite the fact that sucralose in metabolism produces substances that are no longer safe for humans. This sweetener is not absorbed well by the body and are excreted in the urine almost without change.

Dangers of artificial sweeteners for health :

1. Weight gain
   Sugar-free sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, cyclamate, sucralose, and other fact actually even increase the desire to eat excessively by way of confusing the brain. The brain normally associate sweet taste with calorie levels to help regulate energy intake. A study also mentions that the consumption of artificial sweeteners in beverages can increase the weight in the long term lead to obesity.
2. Metabolic Syndrome
   Many studies link between diet soda consumption and the risk of metabolic syndrome. The syndrome has symptoms of hypertension, high blood sugar, fat in the waist, and cholesterol levels are not stable.
3. Diabetes Type 2
   Research from Europe explained that the risk of type 2 diabetes has doubled due to higher consumption of beverages containing artificial sweeteners. Even the consumption of drinks once a day can increase the risk.
4. Hypertension and cardiovascular disease
   Last dangers of artificial sweeteners for health is the increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, especially in women.

For those readers who still need more information about the dangers of artificial sweeteners and the risk of diabetes, please consult or come directly to the hospital Complementary "Canon medicinae Indonesia" Tubagus Ismail Jalan Dago VII 21 Bandung West Java - INDONESIA Phone: +62 - (022) 253-1000 / Fax. (022) 251-6663 / Mobile: +62 - 0812.2023.2009 (Kidney) / +62 - 0878.9537.5000 (Diabetes Mellitus) / +62 - 0856.9518.6000 (Cancer) / +62 - 0822.1848.2898 (Heart) PIN Blackberry: 7E8C39F5 (GENERAL), 7EBA27CF (CANCER), 7E7C3491 (RENAL) (Canon Medicinae Hospital Complementary Hospital Pharmacy Team - Bandung - West Java – INDONESIA).