SWEETENERS Desserts for Special Occasions
A CARBOHYDRATE = A CARBOHYDRATE
USE OF SUGAR IN THE MEAL PLAN w Can be used in moderation w Substitute for other carbohydrate in the meal w Monitor blood glucose effect w Watch fat content
SUGAR OR ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS w Sugar provides volume, texture, color, moistness w Artificial sweeteners are only sweet
SWEETENERS w Nutritive (sugar - contain calories) w Non-nutritive (artificial - no calories)
NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS w Sugars Sucrose, fructose w Sugar Alcohols SorbitolMannitolXylitol MaltitolLactitolIsomalt Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
USE OF SUGAR ALCOHOLS w Compared to sugar: Less calories Similar bulk and texture Less sweet May have laxative effect
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS w Saccharin w Aspartame w Acesulfame-K w Sucralose
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS w Intense sweetness times sweeter than sugar w Safe w Used for calorie control and blood glucose control
SAFETY OF NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS w Can be used by pregnant women (saccharin not best choice) w ADI (acceptable daily intake) - amount that can be safely consumed over lifetime Aspartame - ADI = 50 mg/kg Acesulfame K - ADI = 15 mg/kg Saccharin - limit to 500 mg children and 1000 mg adults
USE OF NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETNERS IN COOKING w Best in beverages, pudding, salad dressings, sauces, pies and frozen desserts w For most baked goods, do not replace more than 1/2 cup of sugar
SACCHARIN w 300 times sweeter than sugar w Acidic ingredients reduce bitter aftertaste w Limit 1000 mg/d = 24 packets 500 mg/d = 12 packets
ASPARTAME w 200 times sweeter than sugar w Little aftertaste w Loses sweetness with storage and heat w Available in many brand names
TO INCREASE STABILITY OF ASPARTAME: w Combine with other sweetener w Add acidic ingredient w Add to food after cooking
ASPARTAME w Breaks down to: Aspartic Acid Phenylalanine Methanol w 1 cup milk = 6 times phenylalanine and 13 times aspartic acid of 1 cup diet soda w 1 cup tomato juice = 6 times methanol of 1 cup diet soda
ACESULFAME - K w 200 times sweeter than sugar w Slight aftertaste in large amounts w Stable in cooking and baking w Brand name Sunette w Table top sweeteners: Sweet-One, Swiss-Sweet
ACESULFAME-K Reduce proportion of acesulfame-K as amount increases in recipe to reduce aftertaste
SUCRALOSE w 600 times sweeter than sugar w Made from sugar w Stable and safe w Marketed as Splenda brand available in packets or granular available in wide range of commercial products