Artificial Sweeteners

Question 1

What are artificial sweeteners used for?

Answer 1

They are substitutes to table sugar, or sucrose.

Question 2

What are the five current major artificial sweeteners available?

Answer 2

1. Aspartame (NutraSweet)
2. Acesulfame-Potassium (Sunett)
3. Neotame
4. Saccharin (Sweet’N Low)
5. Sucralose (Splenda)

Question 3

How much stronger is Aspartame than sucrose?

Answer 3

200 times stronger

Question 4

How much stronger is Acesulfame-Potassium than sucrose?

Answer 4

200 times stronger

Question 5

How much stronger is Neotame than sucrose?

Answer 5

8000 times stronger

Question 6

How much stronger is Saccharin than sucrose?

Answer 6

300 times stronger

Question 7

How much stronger is Sucralose than sucrose?

Answer 7

600 times stronger

Question 8

State the benefits of artificial sweeteners. (1)

Answer 8

• artificial sweeteners are low in calories, which makes it helpful for obese people or any other group of people who need to reduce caloric intake
• sucrose decays teeth over time, but artificial sweeteners do not. This aids in dental health
• artificial sweeteners do not contain sugar. For those that do provide bursts of energy like sugar does, it is often slower and easier for the body to metabolize. This is important to peels with diabetes who must keep strict control over their blood sugar levels.

Question 9

State the benefits of artificial sweeteners. (2)

Answer 9

• people with hypoglycaemia that cannot eat surgery foods can eat foods made with artificial sweeteners as an alternative
• the sweetener aspartame intensifies, extends and sweetens most flavours. It is often used in gum or drinks instead of sugar to give a better and longer lasting taste
• the cost of artificial sweeteners is usually less than the cost of table sugar

Question 10

Risk: What do artificial sweeteners provide?

Answer 10

They provide empty calories and people will just eat more