Sweeteners & Health

Are sugars bad for your health?

The effect of sugar and other caloric (nutritive) sweeteners on health has been studied many times by many authoritative groups, culminating in approval of these food ingredients by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe for use as part of a healthy diet. Like any other food or food ingredient, sugar can be entirely safe when consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Excessive consumption of sugar could lead to adverse health effects just as excessive or unbalanced consumption of many otherwise safe food ingredients could potentially be problematic for some individuals. (2)

What are fruit juice concentrates?

In fruit juice concentrates the raw juice from the fruit has been purified through heat and enzyme processing and filtered to remove fiber, flavor components and impurities. The end product is almost identical (in calories, sugars and nutrients) to sugar, honey or high fructose corn syrup. The food industry uses fruit juice concentrates in jams, canned fruits, beverages and some baked goods to improve customer perception of product labels. They are metabolized no differently than other caloric (nutritive) sweeteners. (3)

Are all caloric (nutritive) sweeteners metabolized similarly?

Yes. The body digests caloric (nutritive) sweeteners by breaking them into smaller units, primarily glucose and fructose. These “simple” sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream, where they are transported to the cells of the body and are then converted into energy. Though the individual sugars are metabolized by different pathways, this is of little consequence since the body sees the same mix of sugars from caloric (nutritive) sweeteners, regardless of source. (2)

How does sugar affect the body?

Sugar contributes energy (calories) and provides building blocks for other molecules the body needs (e.g. proteins and fats).

Are some sweeteners better for your teeth than others?

Yes. Polyols such as xylitol, sorbitol and erythritol do not contribute to dental caries (cavitites). Likewise, low-calorie sweeteners such as aspartame and saccharin do not contribute to tooth decay because they are used in such minute quantities. All caloric (nutritive) sweeteners, including sugar, honey and high fructose corn syrup, contain carbohydrates that “feed” bacteria in the mouth and can contribute to tooth decay.

Will high fructose corn syrup or sugar make me obese?

No single food or ingredient is the sole cause of obesity, but rather too many calories and too little exercise is a primary cause. Both sugar and high fructose corn syrup contain 4 calories per gram. (4)