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Across the globe, citizens are consuming record amounts of soda, energy drinks, and other caffeinated beverages to get them through the day. Growing health concerns concerning certain sweeteners used in these products have prompted drink manufacturers to create newer all natural versions to lower the health risks of popular beverages in order to maintain profits and alleviate the concerns of consumers and health professionals. However, not all all natural products are created equal. The use of sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup and Ace-K have prompted a debate in both the additives safety and effectiveness.

Pure Cane Sugar

Among sweeteners, pure cane sugar is perhaps the most health wise choice for consumers. This is due to the unprocessed and unrefined nature of pure sugar, as well as a lack of certain chemicals used in other sweeteners that have been linked to dangerous side effects. It is generally brown in color and more course in nature than refined sugars, and can often be found in health food stores or on the health food aisle of national supermarkets.

High Fructose Corn Syrup: Uses and Misinformation

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is essentially corn syrups that have undergone processing to increase their fructose content to make them sweeter. This way, less goes a lot further, which makes HFCS a more affordable sweetener than sugar; and especially Pure Cane Sugar. These processing methods also give High Fructose Corn Syrup a longer shelf life than sugar, which is a great bonus to manufacturers.

When reading labels, youll find High Fructose Corn Syrup in many different products from things like soft drinks that you expect to contain sweeteners, to other products like iced tea and juices where its presence might surprise you. And, if you look closely at the labels, youll also notice that sometimes, products that claim to be All Natural have HFCS hidden in the ingredient list, which makes them not really all that Natural after all.

Debates have erupted regarding the widespread use of High Fructose Corn Syrup, primarily because it is expected by some officials to be a key player in the obesity epidemic. Some studies have suggested that HFCS is not metabolized by the body in the same way as sugar and effect the chemicals in the brain that let the body know when it is full. It may also contribute to excess fat storage, resulting in higher weight gain than is customary with natural sugars.

Of course there are other studies saying that HFCS is just the same as table sugar in the effect it has on the body and doesnt contribute to obesity any more than sugar. And again, it is important to remember that sweeteners overall, whether its High Fructose Corn Syrup, Pure Cane Sugar, or any other sweetener, arent the best for your body, especially in large amounts. After all, The World Health Organization recommends that only 10% of your daily calories come from sugar. Based on the average 2,000 calorie diet, thats only 50 grams of sugar per day you should be ingesting, and less is preferable!

Acesulfame Potassium

One of the less talked about sweeteners in the Sweetener Debate is Acesulfame potassium, also known as Ace K. Ace K is a calorie free sweetener along the same lines of aspartame and sucralose. Many diet sodas and other diet beverages contain Ace K as a sweetener because it enables them to give their products a sweet taste without additional calories.

Normally Ace-K is used in conjunction with other artificial sweeteners. This helps increase the sweetness of each product and enhance the overall flavor, making diet treats more appealing to consumers. Using more than one sweetener together normally results in a more naturally sweet flavor than using Ace-K alone.

Ace K can also enable people to enjoy beverages without the threat of tooth decay as well as offering those with diabetes a way to enjoy sodas and other sweetened drinks without negative effects.

In the end, while one sweetener may seem to have less negative effects than another, any sweetener is best when consumed sparingly. Most importantly though, read the labels on the products that you buy, so that regardless of the sweetener in the beverage you choose, you can monitor how much sweetener of any kind youre putting in your system.

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