NNS Sweeteners Chart - Natural, Sugar alcohols, Artificial
Non-Nutritive Sweeteners (NNS)
What are NNS?
Nutritive sweeteners provide a sweet taste and a source of
calories or energy, whereas NON-nutritive sweeteners are sweet without the usual
calories
NNS are low calorie sweetener alternatives added
to many drinks and food products. In the U.S., the FDA
permits food labelling as follows:
"Zero-calorie, "no calories", "without calories"
(you get the idea). Means the food contains
< 5 calories / serving . "Sugar-free". Means food contains
< 0.5g (2 calories) of sugar / serving ,
it does not mean it contains NO sugar / calories.
There are 3 types of NNS: Plant-derived (e.g. stevia, allulose),
sugar alcohols (e.g. erythritol, xylitol), and artificial (e.g. aspartame, sucralose,
saccharin)
NNS use is growing rapidly. The 2009-2012
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) suggests that 2009-2012
NNS adult consumption has doubled and child consumption has increased 54% since
1999-2000. (Sylvetsky et al, 2017; NHANES 2009-2012).
NNS were introduced with the intention of reducing caloric
intake and controlling blood glucose levels without
compromising the human desire for the taste of sweet. However,
as consumption of non-nutritive artificial sweeteners (NAS) has increased, the percentage
of the population with a high BMI has continued to rise:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 January; 89(1): 1-14.
NNS are not harmful to teeth, but may not be such a sweet deal for your health:
Artificial NNS cause weight
gain
Non-nutritive
artificial sweeteners (NAS) are toxic to gut bacteria increasing risk of prediabetes
NAS have also been identified as emerging
environmental pollutants. Concerning concentration levels of ace-k
and sucralose have been measured in receiving waters (i.e., surface waters, groundwater
aquifers and drinking waters). Such concentrations are among the highest known trace
pollutants from human activity. NAS are resistant to wastewater treatment
processes and so accumulate through water treatment cycles.
Molecules,
2018
There are 4.2 grams in 1 LEVEL teaspoon of sugar, nutrition
facts generally round this down to 4 g / tsp.
G.I. = Glycemic Index S.I. = Sweetness
index (table sugar is 1) H.S. = Heat stable
Natural (Plant) NNS
Chemical name
G.I.
Cals.
S.I.
Plant or Trade name
Heat
Notes
Allulose (mo nosaccharide with same formiula
as fructose)0
1
0.70
Dolcia Prima; Used like sugar
Yes
"Rare sugar" found in trace amounts in a few foods (incl. figs,
raisins, kiwi, wheat);INSULIN
Stevia leaf 0
0
300
Various foods and beverages
Yes
Distinctive aftertaste;
Steviol glycosides: 0
0
Stevia ; Equal
naturals®; Truvia®(by Coca Cola);Yes
Leaf extracts;
Stevioside
300
Rebaudioside A
450
Mogroside V 0
0
150
Luo Han Guo ("Monk
fruit"); Purefruit®; Nectresse®*Yes
Fruit extract;
Glycyrrhizin 0
0
50
Licorice.
Licorice root extract;CORTISOL
Sugar Alcohol NNS
Chemical name
G.I.
Cals.
S.I.
Plant or Trade name
Heat
Notes
Erythritol (0.2
cals/g)1
1
0.7
Equal naturals®
Yes
Produced by fermenting glucose in cornstarch
Xylitol
(2.4 cals/g)7-12
10
.95 -1
Glycerol 3
40
0.4-0.8
Sorbitol (2.6 cals/g)4
19
0.5-0.6
Mannitol 2
13
0.5
Artificial Sweetener NNS
Chemical name
G.I.
Cals.
S.I.
Plant or Trade name
Heat
Notes
Aspartame
- "Neurotoxin" "Blue packet"0
0
100-220
?
Toxic to gut bacteria;
Sucralose
- "Organochlorine" Yellow
packet"0
0
500- 755
Yes
Toxic to gut bacteria;
Saccharin Pink
packet"0
0
200-400
Yes
Toxic to gut bacteria;
Acesulfame K (Ace K)4 H4 KNO4 S0
0
200
Sunett®and Sweet One®ACE®, ACE K®,
Yes
Toxic to gut bacteria;
Neotame 0
0
10,000
Newtame® In low-calorie foods / beverages
Yes
Toxic to gut bacteria;
Cyclamate 0
0
40
Discovered 1937; US banned it in 1969
after reports of tumors in rats ; popular approved sweetener in
other countries.
Advantame 0
0
20,000
Yes
*Nectress is manufactured by McNeil Nutritionals, the makers
of Splenda®. It is mainly monk fruit extract with a small amount of erythritol (a
sugar alcohol), sugar and molasses.
Equal original: Dextrose with Maltodextrin, Aspartame, Acesulfame K
Equal sucralose: Dextrose with maltodextrin, sucralose
Equal naturals: Erythritol, Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavors
Nutrasweet: dextrose with maltodextrin, aspartame
Purevia and Truvia: Reb A and erythritol as granules
References NHANES 2009-2012. The National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey
Sylvetsky, A.C.; Jin, Y.; Clark, E.J.; Welsh, J.A.; Rother, K.I.; Talegawkar
(2017) S.A. Consumption of Low-Calorie Sweeteners among Children and Adults in the
United States. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 117, 441-448.
PubMed
