Aspartame-Safe Additive for Diabetics?

 

 

When I first started researching diabetic safe foods I wanted to find foods to help people with diabetes to effectively lose weight. When I put in the search I kept seeing diet sodas as a reason for weight gain due to the artificial sweetener aspartame. So I finally decided to look into this subject and was blown away by the amount of negative opinions.

 

Initially I found that while aspartame is FDA approved and has been deemed safe as a food additive. It has a whole list of the positive effects and reasons on why it is safe. It also goes on to say that it is only unsafe on rats, and there is no proof of tumors growing in the human brain. If it is so safe why is there a list of symptoms of aspartame poisoning on the LIVESTRONG website, "The symptoms of aspartame poisoning can impact your psychological and physiological functioning and may even lead to death."  to read the article and see a list of the symptoms click here. If this is the case, why is it still added in over 6,000 food and drink products?

One of the reasons aspartame is said to cause weight gain is by making people feel as though they saved the calories on diet soda so they can eat more food than if they didn't.

Another reason is aspartame is said to cause depression which leads to eating more.

A source also said that formaldehyde in the aspartame stores in fat cells in the hips and thighs, and may cause problems with blood glucose control.

Whatever the case may be I would consider diet soda or just soda to be something to be enjoyed in moderation, just as all sweets and foods.

I heard a lot of disturbing facts in the video and in my sources, but found if it is unsafe it is for all people, not just diabetics. I do not think this is a topic I will quit looking into just because the assignment is over. My husband lives off of diet sodas at work, so I really would like to know more.

My argument will be based on artificial sweeteners, do the pros outweigh the cons.

References

Farley. A, "Symptoms of Aspartame Poisoning."LIVESTRONG.com. Demand Media. Web.
               16 August 2013.
"Aspartame." American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Web. 28 May 2014.

 
Humphries, P, Pretorius, E., Naude, H.Direct and “Indirect Cellular Effects of Aspartame On the            Brain” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Nature Publishing Group.2008. Library
           Database.

Fake Sugars-Are they Good for You?

There are many names for artificial sweeteners and different companies that produce different kinds from different sources. I am going to explore some of the most common and the effects on the body and their pros and cons.

• Aspartame-This one seems to be the most controversial artificial sweeteners. Claims against it and it's potential side-effects range from headaches and dizziness to cancer. Tumors have been found in rats after given large doses of the substance, but from what I can tell it would be impossible for a human to consume enough to harm them. The FDA has deemed it safe and the American Cancer Society has also said that the claims have never been substantiated. If you would like to see more on the American Cancer Society has to say on the subject click here.

          Aspartame seems to be good for the human body. It cuts out sugars that can
          cavities, weight gain, and potentially diabetes. Which is good considering it has been put in           foods such as yogurt, ice cream, and protein bars, and drinks such juices, teas, and sodas  for           over  30 years.

• Sucralose-This artificial sweetener is made by adding chlorine to sugar which sounds bad, but because of this it passes through the intestines undigested, and none of the calories stick. This can cause stomach problems such as gas and diarrhea, but it can prevent cavities, diabetes, and help a diabetic enjoy sweets without raising their blood sugar levels. To see a full list of the possible side effects  click here.

         

• Stevia-This artificial sweetener has not been FDA approved as a whole leaf or an additive in foods. To see the FDAs website click here. A reason that the FDA has not approved it is because it can dramatically lower blood pressure and blood glucose levels. This is a cause of concern because so many people eat and drink artificially sweetened foods on a daily basis. The supplement is available because supplements and vitamins are not regulated by the FDA. When the supplement is refined it has been approved for some use in beverages such as vitamin drinks and teas, but that is about the only place a person can find them.

Based on the research I have done it seems that FDA approved artificial sweeteners can be beneficial to all people, not only diabetics. It decreases the amount of calorie consumption, reduces cavities, and can aid in weight loss when eaten/drank in conservative amounts. There are many theories on harmful side effects from ingesting foods and drinks with aspartame, and many companies that are labeling their food items aspartame free. Based on this on I will be doing more research on aspartame, and asking whether they are just theories or if anybody has found any facts.

Stevia on the other hand has not proven to be safe in whole form, but in a purified form can be safe, but has not shown enough pros for me to add it to my diet anytime soon.

Now Sugar-Free... Or is it? Effectively Read the Label

When a person with Diabetes sees a food label that states now sugar-free they may want to buy it based on the claim, but what else should they be looking for? On the side of all foods is the nutrition label, it states the good, the bad, and the added, and also a list of ingredients based on the highest amount to the least. Most people know and understand this, but do they know what it all means. The carbohydrate section is the most important for the diabetic to take into consideration. The carbs are the total amount of sugars, sugar alcohols, and starches in the food. So when the amount of carbs is the same amount of sugars it means that all the carbs are from sugar, but when there is 14 carbs, and only 2 grams of sugars that means the rest of the carbs are based on starches. In the body starches are broken down into sugars so the blood sugar can be raised by starches just the same as sugars. Fake sugars and sugar alcohols are added to foods to keep them sweet and keep them sugar-free, but they also break down to starches by the body so although the food is kept sugar-free it is not considered carbohydrate free.

LABEL CLAIM	DEFINITION (per standard serving size)
Fat-free* or sugar-free	Less than 0.5 gram (g) of fat or sugar
Low fat	3 g of fat or less
Reduced fat or reduced sugar	At least 25% less fat or sugar than the regular product.
Cholesterol free	Less than 2 milligrams (mg) cholesterol and 2 g or less of saturated fat
Reduced cholesterol	At least 25% less cholesterol and 2 g or less of saturated fat
Calorie free	Less than 5 calories
Low calorie	40 calories or less
Light or lite	1/3 fewer calories or 50% less fat

Retrieved from WebMD

http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/tc/reading-food-labels-when-you-have-diabetes-

It's not only foods and drinks the label needs to be read. Illnesses are another area of concerns in a diabetic. Of course they are for all people, but some of the medicines used can greatly raise the blood sugar. Cough medicines for a cold are the worst especially cough syrups. Most people do not think to stop and read the label on medicine or look to see if it is diabetic friendly, but it is an important practice to follow. Due to the illness the person is not moving as much so their body is not using as many carbs, so they are already going to see an increase in their levels. When the cough syrup is added it can cause even more issues. A pharmacist can help a person find the right medicine or they can look at the labels for the healthy heart to make the right choice.


http://dtc.ucsf.edu/living-with-diabetes/diet-and-nutrition/understanding-carbohydrates/counting-carbohydrates/learning-to-read-labels/understanding-fiber/

There are many labels to read when controlling diabetes, but it is worth it in the long run. In my next post I will be researching the effects of fake sugars, and are they safe?
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"Safe" Foods for Diabetics

My husband was diagnosed with diabetes 4 1/2 years ago. Since then I have tried helping lose weight and keep his glucose levels low. We have not had much luck, and he has been diagnosed with many other health problems as well. We are constantly looking up foods for diabetics, usually going to popular websites, but there are many questions left unanswered on the sites. The important questions to me are, "How do these foods affect blood pressure and cholesterol levels?"

Once diagnosed with diabetes a person must make major changes in their lifestyle. Lower sugar intake and losing weight is at the top of the list. While most people will understand the need to cut out donuts and soft drinks they might be mislead by food and drink labels of the not so obvious. Losing weight can be a challenge, but what foods and drinks are safe for a person with type 2 diabetes?

When a person first checks the label on diet drinks they are pleased to see all 0's down the nutritional facts. While diet sodas and sugar free energy drinks can be safely consumed without raising glucose levels, they can cause other problems by the amount of caffeine in the beverage. High caffeine can cause sleeping problems and raise a person's blood pressure. So although it may not affect diabetes directly it is giving a person with diabetes another symptom to be treated. Medicines to treat high blood pressure can cause issues while trying to control blood glucose levels. High blood pressure can also cause problems with blood circulation to the eyes, legs, feet, and the heart. So what drinks are safe and in what quantities?

Eggs are also on the "safe" food list, but not the amount or cooking methods. Most people know cooking eggs in butter is not good for cholesterol levels and will hard-boil the eggs, but there is a problem that. One egg yolk contains 2/3 of the amount of cholesterol needed for the day and over 100% the amount for a person on a low cholesterol diet. So although eggs provide a good amount of protein having more than one for a snack could be an unhealthy decision. So are eggs good for the diabetic or should they stay away?

Last but not least while shopping a person may be tempted by a low fat label or an item claiming reduced fat, but the rest of the label should be read as well. When companies cut out the fats in foods they usually are raising sugars to keep a good taste. What should be a diabetic be looking for on a food label and in the nutrition facts?

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