I WILL STILL choose sugar-free alternatives. They cater to my requirement of sugar substitutes in foods," says 29-year-old Sumati Sharma, reacting to the World Health Organization's July 14 announcement that declared the popular artificial sweetener aspartame "possibly carcinogenic to humans". Sharma is a graphic designer based in Delhi and has used sugar substitutes since 2021. "I am not diabetic but there is a history of diabetes in my family, which is why I have gone completely off sugar. Plus, I am calorie-conscious," she says.
Sugar substitutes are substances used in place of sweeteners that have sugar (sucrose) or sugar alcohols. They have negligible or zero calories because, unlike sugar, they do not get broken down by the body into products that provide energy or calories. Also called non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) or non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS), sugar substitutes are primarily of two types: artificial (which are prepared in laboratories; for example, aspartame) and natural (which are derived from plants; for example, stevia). They are used as tabletop sweeteners as well as in food items labelled "sugar free", "lowcalorie" or "diet" across the world.
The global rise in cases of diabetes and obesity has resulted in many opting for sugar substitutes to avoid developing the disease, manage weight or cut calories. This is reflected in an increase in the sale of sugar substitutes. A 2023 report by global market consultancy The Business Research Company projects a rise of 29.4 per cent in the sale of sugar substitutes-from $20.52 billion in 2022 to 29.08 billion by 2027.
Denne historien er fra December 16, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra December 16, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
