Sucralose

“Splenda” - Sucralose

Splenda is a sucralose-based artificial sweetener that is made from sugar, but is the only one that has no nutritional value. However, it is about 600 times sweeter than regular table sugar, (Frey, 2013). To make sucralose from sugar, three chlorine atoms are substituted for three hydroxyl groups in the sugar molecule. In 1999, the FDA approved the use of sucralose as a sweetener, (Frey, 2013). Splenda, which is the commercial name, is meant to be a calorie free sugar substitute or sweetener.

Although Splenda is an artificial sweetener, there are some arguments that say it may be safe and useful to the standard diet. One study suggests that the intake of artificial sweeteners may reduce cravings for real sugar, and reduce consumption of added sugars, aiding in weight loss, (Diabetes Care, 2012). Sucralose has been shown to have no effect on weight, compared to table sugar and it is utilized in weight loss programs, (Grotz and Munro, 2009). Splenda also has no nutritional value, but health protection experts from around the world have said that it is a safe food ingredient, and it can be consumed safely for one's whole life. The FDA has also pointed out that it is safe for children, the elderly, and even people with diabetes, (Grotz and Munro, 2009) because it does not raise the sugar levels in a diabetic’s blood, (Changing Life Through Science, 2012). Rats and mice have been studied while consuming sucralose and there have been no carcinogenicity seen at even high doses, (Kashaf, 2012).

Although there are some arguments that say artificial sweeteners such as Splenda reduce sugar cravings, there are others who disagree and a new study helps prove that. Researchers blocked the sugar receptors in mice and they found that natural sugars bind to the sugar receptors, but artificial sugars do not. The brains dopamine reward centers of the mice could detect the glucose, but did not recognize the sucralose. This proves that these artificial...