| There are more and more sugar substitutes on | | | | going to consume over 850 cans of diet soda a |
| the market and in our grocery stores than ever | | | | day, these are probably pretty safe for your |
| before, but are they safe for our children? With | | | | children. And remember, most sugar substitutes |
| so many different sugar substitute ingredients and | | | | are much sweeter than natural sugar, so it takes |
| products to choose from, we looked at them to | | | | less to achieve the same sugary taste. |
| see for ourselves if, indeed, substitute sugar is | | | | Sugar-free items that contain ingredients such as |
| safe for children. We found some good, some | | | | sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and, eruthritol have been |
| bad, and some where the evidence of whether | | | | shown to cause rashes in some people, but not |
| they were good or bad effects were simply not | | | | many. These ingredients found in some sugar |
| in yet. | | | | substitutes can also produce gas, so it's best not |
| The first sugar substitute ingredient we looked at | | | | to indulge in large quantities of sugar substitutes |
| was Splenda"; an artificial sweetener that comes | | | | that have these ingredients in them to avoid |
| in many packaged items and drinks or you can | | | | intestinal problems. No one wants their child to go |
| add it to a drink in a powder form. One expert | | | | off to school with intestinal gas and pain. |
| said, "Splenda" could be compared to DDT!" Wow, | | | | Acesulfame K, found in Sweet One" has proven |
| we thought that to be bad. Splenda" has been | | | | relatively safe and is easy to use in cooking |
| one of those sweeteners that promised no side | | | | recipes or snack recipes. Children's bodies can |
| effects only to have questionable side effects | | | | absorb Acesulfame K fairly well, so this sugar |
| later. Splenda" is actually a synthetic compound | | | | substitute is probably safe. |
| called sucralose. Sucralose was found by accident | | | | So, should we use sugar substitutes and are they |
| by a scientist who was looking for a new | | | | safe for our children? Probably yes, as full |
| pesticide. Studies in rats that were given Splenda" | | | | research isn't in on all of them, however, we feel |
| showed altered thymus glands and enlarged | | | | good about staying away from Splenda" and |
| kidneys and livers. While we also hate any form | | | | sugar-free ingredients that can cause intestinal |
| of animal testing, experts still are on the shelf | | | | gas. Stick with what's always worked in the past |
| about this sweetener---we suggest you stay | | | | such as saccharine and Acesulfame K, when using |
| away until they know the true effects! | | | | a sugar substitute to ensure your child's safety. |
| Equal" and Sweet 'n Low", that contain aspartame | | | | In the end, natural sugar will not hurt your child, |
| and saccharine, respectively, have shown some | | | | especially natural fruit and vegetable sugars, but |
| side effects in rats, but they have to be | | | | they can increase dental decay. While the experts |
| consumed in enormous quantities, even in rats to | | | | weigh in, as a parent, it's a good idea to talk to |
| produce any negative effect. Many supermarket | | | | your pediatrician and monitor what your children |
| items that are sugar-free are made with these | | | | consume-especially when it comes to sugar |
| sugar substitutes and so far, unless your child is | | | | substitutes. |