Health Report on Splenda and Sucralose
23/11/2009 12:26
on: Eating Out, Health Management, Nutrition Resources
The chemical name of the Splenda ingredient is sucralose. While sucralose indeed starts off as a sugar molecule, it is the process by which it’s manufactured that raises concern. Sucralose is a synthetic chemical that is produced in a five-step patented process. During this process, three chlorine molecules are added to a basic sugar molecule. The initial, natural sugar molecule is a disaccharide that contains two single sugars that are together; these single sugars are glucose and fructose.
The chemical process to make Splenda modifies the chemical constitution of the sugar so much that it is converted into a molecule that does not normally occur in nature. Because this molecule is not natural, the body does not know how to break it down it. According to the manufacturers of Splenda, this is the very grounds on which Splenda is a zero calorie sweetener — it is not metabolized or digested in the body. Splenda merely passes through the digestive track without depositing any calories.
This is deceptive, however, as Splenda’s zero calorie status would only be technically valid if the body did have the capability to metabolize it. More troubling, the fact that Splenda is an unnatural ingredient evokes questions about its safety, especially if used in generous amounts over a long period of time. There is the additional matter of insulin reaction. While research reports are still unclear, the medical community widely theorizes that Splenda produces an increase in insulin levels, which, whether or not calories are present, will signal the body to hold on to fat reserves or even store more fat.
One medical study nullifies the statement that Splenda is not absorbed in the body. In this study (conducted on humans), one in eight participants did not excrete any sucralose after three days of consuming Splenda. Another study (conducted on animals) determined that 15% of ingested sucralose is absorbed into the digestive system and is later stored in the body. This is why Splenda side effects are so commonly reported.
