Artificial Sweeteners - Review of Class Blog

I start every morning off with two Splendas in my coffee. When I came across the article “Artificial Sweeteners: How Bad Are Saccharin, Aspartame?” I decided it was probably a good time to do some research on my bad Splenda habits. Luckily, the article told me that my habits with artificial sweeteners aren’t going to give me cancer, but they certainly aren’t all that healthy.

There are many types of artificial sweeteners, and some have been labeled as dangerous over the past years. Saccharin was the first artificial sweetener to be discovered in 1879, but it left an aftertaste of “unpleasant metallic”. So when cyclamate came out in 1951, lots of companies used it in their products because it tasted better than saccharin. However, cyclamate was soon being linked to cancer, and the government ordered it be taken out of all foods. Saccharin, although not linked to cancer, needed to carry warning labels because a study indicated that it might contribute to cancer in rats. Aspartame was then created and became the main additive in diet cola drinks. Numerous tests have been conducted on aspartame and all confirmed that it is safe to consume aspartame.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are no clear connections linking cancer and artificial sweeteners. Numerous studies are conducted on artificial sweeteners before they are marketed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also regulates artificial sweeteners and requires artificial sweeteners be FDA approved before marketed for sale. This makes sense; according to "Artificial Sweeteners", diet cola has been tested more than 200 times, and each time it has been proven diet cola is safe to drink.

One quote that stood out to me in "Artificial Sweeteners" article is: “The fear-mongering and misinformation plaguing the faux-sweetener market seems to be rooted in a common misconception. No evidence indicates that sweeteners cause obesity; people with weight problems simply tend to eat more of it.” People struggling with their weight may try to use artificial sweeteners as a substitute for real sugar to cut out calories, but may later overcompensate by eating more of another food item. Using artificial sweeteners does not mean people should eat more calories of other foods. Although artificial sweeteners are lower in calories and much sweeter than sugar, but a little bit of the naturally sweet sugar may be just sweet enough.

Debunking Health Claims

The claims that Metamucil makes about their various products all sound beneficial and healthy. Some of Metamucil’s biggest claims are “Helps lower your cholesterol; Helps your natural cleansing process; Provides a good source of natural fiber; Promotes overall well-being”. However, there are so many claims it seems a little too good to be true.

According to the experts on the Metamucil website, Metamucil can add large amounts of fiber to a diet, can help digestive health, and comes in many forms that are easily accommodating to different lifestyles. Along with this, Metamucil can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. On the other hand, other experts claim “excessive amounts of Metamucil can result in a vitamin deficiency” and since it can act as a digestive aid, people can become dependent on the product. In addition to these claims, Metamucil is also used by some as a weight-loss product. This is because is contains fiber, which often makes the stomach feel fuller. People taking Metamucil may be inclined to eat less, causing weight loss.

Metamucil contains psyllium husk, which is "a natural plant fiber that is a great source of soluble fiber". The websites that contained the opinions of “experts” made similar claims about the fiber in Metamucil products, which leads me to believe that the claims made about the fiber in Metamucil are valid.

Since some people use Metamucil as a way to lose weight while others use it to increase fiber in their diets, the truth may differ depending on who is asked. I believe Metamucil works as a digestive aid and as a way to increase fiber in the diet because all claims made about Metamucil verify it contains lots of fiber, and the ingredients in Metamucil verify the amount of fiber as well. However, rather than taking Metamucil, I would recommend eating foods such as apples, plums, broccoli, peas, bran cereal, whole wheat bread, and beans. Incorporating more fiber-rich foods into your diet before taking fiber supplements is a safer and healthier option. By eating natural foods, there is no need to take Metamucil and risk developing a dependency on it.